GPs have expressed “grave concerns” about the implementation of the Health Visiting Review in Glasgow, calling the review process “flawed”.
In a letter addressed to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chief executive Tom Divers, GPs from the South East Glasgow CHCP write that they believe that the Health Visiting Review process was, “so flawed . . . that collaboration in its implementation might lead our patients to think that we are betraying our responsibilities to them.”
In particular they highlight the exclusion of GPs, health visitors and service users from the process, the closed nature of the meetings and lack of published minutes, the “highly flawed and selective “ literature review and evidence base, and the short time scale for consultation.
They go on to argue that the review recommendations, which include the removal of health visitors from general practice and the loss of immunization contacts between health visitors and families, constitute a “major danger to the children in our area.”
The GPs requested a meeting with Divers to address their concerns, and in the meantime have called for the review to be suspended with immediate effect and for the review process to be restarted and performed in “a manner appropriate to the management of valued primary care professionals.”
Similarly, GPs from the South West of Glasgow CHCP have written an open letter criticising the “steam roller” approach to the implementation of the review and are refusing to implement it on the grounds that they “ethnically can’t engage with the recommendations.”
They also criticise the decoupling of health visiting from general practice, saying it “potentially sets the scene for vulnerable children becoming invisible to all services,” which they argue is likely to lead to an increase in serious child protection incidents.
Dr Linda de Caestecker, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Director of Public Health, said: “The key driver for these changes is to increase support for the most vulnerable children and their families.
“Children in the most disadvantaged circumstances are far less likely to take up the routine health checks that health visitors currently provide. The most vulnerable children in our society therefore are least likely to benefit from existing arrangements.
“By targeting our resources towards the children who need them the most, we believe we can improve the outcomes for some of the most vulnerable children in Scotland.”
She also said that Health visitors will retain a “key role” in ensuring a continued high rate of immunisation by informing families of the need for immunisation, and supporting and encouraging them to attend immunisation clinics.
A spokesperson from NHS GGC added: “Tom Divers has had a meeting with a group of GPs from south west Glasgow and the LMC on how we try to progress the proposals for health visitors this will remain an ongoing dialogue.”
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am aware that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde has recently conducted a review of health visiting services as part of a wider policy of integrating services for children and young people in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. I understand that the Chief Executive of the Board has met with GPs to hear their concerns.”
One person has commented on this article. 1. Health Visiting Review “flawed”, say GPs
Anonymous, Unregistered I wholeheartedly agree that this Review needs to be given the input of all affected professionals and the public to ensure transparency and dispel the current lack of trust of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Management.This should be welcomed if there is nothing to hide!
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