I have two reasons for doing a post natal visit soon after mother and
baby come home. They tend to be mutually exclusive. If everything went
well, it makes a refreshing change to sit for a few minutes away from
the surgery with people who are healthy, happy, and pleased with their
achievement. If something went wrong, I can try to strengthen my
relationship with the mother because she may need to have a point of
call to discuss future activities.
And the funding for postnatal visits? They are risible, and with
increasing 48hr or less turnarounds, payments for visits are reducing.
But we weren't doing postnatal visits for the money were we? I mean, we
wouldn't be doing any obstetric care at all if we were trying to turn a
profit.
And most of the content of the consultation of my postnatal visits
centre on joinery, masonry or such like. Isn't it interesting what all
sorts of things people get up to?
Katie Law <[log in to unmask]> writes
>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?
>
>
>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
--
Paul J Scott, Primary Care Physician, United Kingdom.
Fax 44 (0)1935 410188
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