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Care Opinion

Weighing confusion

Posted By justanothermum

"Weighing confusion"

About: Beeston Central Children's Centre Chilwell Children's Centre

(as the patient),

I had read on Face book that the health visitor weighing clinics had become self weighing sessions at pop in and play. I went to the Beeston Central to weigh my toddler and was turned away as the session was for babies only. I went up to the Chilwell centre and spoke to a HV. She said that the scales that will be available in the self weighing sessions go up to 20kg. My concerns are that children over 12 months are not getting access to the scales in order for self weighing to take place, or if a parent had a toddler and a baby that they would be discouraged from self weighing the children if older children aren't welcome at the baby sessions.

Luckily for me the health visitor at chilwell was able to make an exception to see me and weigh my son, and am happy with the service they give, but it is the lack of clarity of information on self weighing sessions that concerns me. I think there is a real risk that parents of children over 12 months are getting the impression that there aren't sessions to weigh their children. I am sure I am not the only parent to have felt a lack of clarity on the information for self weighing sessions.

It is a real blow that the health visitors can't do the clinics any more. I am sure that they are providing a great service to the community, but it is sad that their main link to provide contact to the greatest number of families is gone.

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Responses

Response from Karon Foulkes, General Manager, Children and Young People, Health Partnerships 7 years ago
Karon Foulkes
General Manager, Children and Young People,
Health Partnerships

Submitted on 18/11/2016 at 10:00
Published on Care Opinion at 10:02

picture of Karon Foulkes

Thank you for taking the time to put your concerns in writing and for highlighting the restrictions that may occur for older children due to the scales in use and the children centre group that is linked to the self-weigh opportunity. We are in a stage of transition at present to the new model and I will be sharing your story with the managers for the health visiting and Children Centre teams to ask them to review their processes, availability of equipment, attendance of older children where self-weigh is available and understanding of each other’s services so they can improve communication with parents.

After the early days, babies only need to be weighed at the time of routine checks. Many parents like to have their babies weighed more often than this however weights measured over a longer time are more likely to show the true weight change. This is why it is recommended by the World Health Organisation and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, that babies should not be weighed more often than once a month from 2 weeks to 6 months of age, no more than every 2 months up to 1 year of age, and no more than every 3 months after that, unless there are special reasons. The time between weighing is longer for older babies because they are growing less quickly.

A health visitor may suggest that a child is weighed more often than this if there are concerns about their health or growth. If this is the case the health visitor will arrange to see the child at an appointment.

As part of ensuring the best use of resources in Nottinghamshire the child health clinics are changing so that access to health visitors will improve for those parents and children who require support or a review by providing an appointment. Self-weigh is an additional option which is made available for parents who are interested in the weight of their baby.

Health Visitors and others in the health visiting teams will continue to see all young children and their carers at specific intervals and to regularly see those who need a range of supportive interventions and those where there are concerns identified.

Please be assured we will continue to review our services and the impact any changes make on the wellbeing of the families we serve.

Kind regards

Karon

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