page
| Pre-school - jabs and clinics | |
|
You will be offered check-ups for your baby by your doctor or health visitor. Schedules vary around the country, but in Northumberland the baby is checked by the paediatrician before leaving hospital, and again by the GP at around 10 days. A further check at 6 weeks makes sure that he or she is starting to smile, and that some head control is developing. The health visitors check the baby's hearing at around 8 months, and do another developmental check at 18 months to assess progress with walking and speech. The doctor will do further developmental checks at 2½ and 4½ years. As part of the child health programme, immunisations are offered against a number of infections, according to a nationally agreed timetable. Click here for more details.
Health Professionals involved Health Visitors are the professionals trained specifically to help and support parents in a child's early years, and to monitor the growth and development of the child. Each medical practice has one or more health visitors, and they work closely with other members of the Primary Health Care Team. Northumberland has a system of parent-held child health records. Each child is given a loose-leaf folder which includes the health record (including details of immunisations, health checks and significant illnesses), which is kept by the parents. Also included in the book is advice on matters such as what to expect at the different stages of development, safety in the home and so on. Once the child reaches school age, the health visitor's records are incorporated into the school health record, which follows the child through their school career. The health professional most likely to be involved with children in school is the school nurse. Often, especially with older children, she can develop quite a close and supportive relationship which many children find helpful. The skills of other people such as speech therapists or physiotherapists may sometimes be needed if a child has a problem in a particular area, and referrals to these agencies would normally be made by the doctor or health visitor. |
