DAD.info
Free online course for separated parents
Forum - Ask questions. Get answers.
Free online course for separated parents
Notifications
Clear all

[Solved] Accessing Health Visitor

 
(@introverteddad)
Trusted Member Registered

I have shared care of my 2 1/2 year old son and have to use a ‘communications book’. His mother now all of a sudden mentions in the book that the health visitor says such and such.

How can I access the health visitor myself and hear information from the ‘horses mouth ‘ so to speak? I read that Father’s hardly get a look in when it comes to health visitors.

Any help will be appreciated.

Quote
Topic starter Posted : 10/10/2019 12:41 am
 actd
(@actd)
Illustrious Member

Do you have parental responsibility for your son? If so, then you could contact your GP and request information. The easier way, however, may be to request from the mother that you would like access to this, to save her the hassle of seeing you in court if it came to that.

ReplyQuote
Posted : 10/10/2019 4:42 pm
(@introverteddad)
Trusted Member Registered

Do you have parental responsibility for your son? If so, then you could contact your GP and request information. The easier way, however, may be to request from the mother that you would like access to this, to save her the hassle of seeing you in court if it came to that.

Thanks for the reply.

I have parental responsibility. My son’s GP Surgery is not mine but his Mother's. However I have officially told them of me being his Father and having parental responsibility. I would ask his Mother, but after what she had done I don’t trust her to give me the correct information.

ReplyQuote
Topic starter Posted : 10/10/2019 6:44 pm
 Toks
(@Toks)
Estimable Member Registered

Hi there,

I had a very similar problem a few years ago accessing my son's medical records as he was registered at his mum's GP practice, and she felt she only needed to share 'the important stuff', which meant I often only found out about several of his illnesses either through school attendance records, or days after the event.

What you could do (if you haven't already, and if going through the mum is a hassle) is go to the surgery with photo ID (like your passport) and a copy of your son's birth certificate, and formally register as his father with PR. They are then obligated to share your son's medical information with you and allow you access to his medical records while he is so young. In my case, the GP put a lot of obstacles in the way because the mother had been going to that surgery for years, so they had some sort of 'loyalty' towards her, which I knew from advice was not only unprofessional, but in contravention of family law.

You have every right to be fully involved in your son's health care.

ReplyQuote
Posted : 10/10/2019 9:41 pm
(@introverteddad)
Trusted Member Registered

Hi there,

I had a very similar problem a few years ago accessing my son's medical records as he was registered at his mum's GP practice, and she felt she only needed to share 'the important stuff', which meant I often only found out about several of his illnesses either through school attendance records, or days after the event.

What you could do (if you haven't already, and if going through the mum is a hassle) is go to the surgery with photo ID (like your passport) and a copy of your son's birth certificate, and formally register as his father with PR. They are then obligated to share your son's medical information with you and allow you access to his medical records while he is so young. In my case, the GP put a lot of obstacles in the way because the mother had been going to that surgery for years, so they had some sort of 'loyalty' towards her, which I knew from advice was not only unprofessional, but in contravention of family law.

You have every right to be fully involved in your son's health care.

Thanks.

I have formally informed the GP surgery about me and they should inform me etc. of important information. I don’t understand why Fathers are treated like second class citizens when in a separated parent’s situation.

I’ll probably ask Mother for the health visitor’s details (to cover my back), but I’ll also ask the GP too. I assume writing a formal letter would be best?

ReplyQuote
Topic starter Posted : 11/10/2019 2:40 am
 Yoda
(@yoda)
Famed Member

A lot of issues with PR and Medical are down to a lack of knowledge from the school or GP surgeries of their legal obligations.

If you search on google for Custody Minefield and Separated Dads, you should be able to find example letters that you can send.

ReplyQuote
Posted : 13/10/2019 3:24 pm
(@introverteddad)
Trusted Member Registered

A lot of issues with PR and Medical are down to a lack of knowledge from the school or GP surgeries of their legal obligations.

If you search on google for Custody Minefield and Separated Dads, you should be able to find example letters that you can send.

Thanks for the advice.

ReplyQuote
Topic starter Posted : 14/10/2019 1:34 am
Share:

Pin It on Pinterest