We discussed this 2 weeks ago, and in general it seemed few practices
were doing routine home visits in the immediae post-natal period.
Could I clarify a couple of points?
1. The necessity to check the baby or not?
One argument for continuing to visit (not mine) is to listen to
baby's heart as leaving it to the 8 week check is too long.
I would say that I have never detected a significant abnormality
that has not been apparent either immediately after birth or is
symptomatic/detectable by midwife. (including 1 year SHO paeds, 5 years
CMO child health, 5 years GP doing post-natal visists).
Is this really necessary or is it another example of screening
of dubious benefit, but still done because *we have always done it*??
2. Fees
The Red Book appears to state that:
complete fees - payable for ....and for providing services to mother and
child through 14 days after confinement ..and post natal exam at 6 weeks
i.e. nothing about home visits in these 2 weeks
partial fees - for each attendance to give mother or child medical care
during the 14 days after confinement
i.e. does not define attendance as home visit
attendance should be for medical care (not social *well done* call)
I personally do not think the fees worth the hassle of home visits, when
they are often out registering baby, collecting other children from
school, or, in this weather, out for a walk!
I recall some years ago being on the receiving end of a post-natal visit
for one child where the doctor spent more time discussing the joinery
and craftsmanship of the pine bed my husband had made. He didn't wake
the sleeping baby and as for me - well, I'm a woman aren't I, and can
look after myself!
(for the ex GP of mine on the list - it wasn't you, and if the other one
is on the list - no criticisms - the visit was appreciated even though
not medically necessary!)
KT
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