Missed scan threatened with social services!

[Jhawc24]

I am really concerned about a letter my son's girlfriend has received. She is 32 weeks pregnant. She missed a recent scan appointment - basically they did not have any bus fare to get there. She received a letter from the hospital with a new appointment which states if they miss this one then they will have no alternative but to refer the case to social services!

 

What's that all about? I know the pregnancy has not gone easy some of the tests showed up problems, plus she's rhesus negative and needs to have injections. They have had to attend regular to have more scans than normal, including having to travel into Birmingham for a specialist scan. All has been well thankfully apart from the baby being a little small. Please note there has been no issues such as drugs or alcohol abuse - she even packed in smoking!

 

This is the first appointment they have missed, this letter causes serious concern and obviously upsetting for them. Is it a standard letter or is there something more sinister going on?

 

Any advice taken kindly, regards Joan.

[pinkpetal]

Can't see there is much to worry about.

 

Think you will find that in light of all recent child protection press, hospitals are being over cautious.

 

Unless of course there is something in either of their pasts which would necessitate social service involvement.

 

At the end of the day, the hosptial have a duty to protect the unborn child and they would do this by bringing it to the attention of the local social services.

 

BTW, can the hosptial not assist with travel to ensure they get to the appointments. Most hospitals have patient transport. It might be worth them asking...

[gizmo111]

I would write back and ask what concerns do they have that would merit social work involvement?

[Jhawc24]

Thank you for the replies.

 

Firstly, re patient transport - I actually work for the ambulance service so I know the criteria to be able to use it. Unfortunately she wouldn't qualify. Money has been tight because she is now on maternity benefit and he (my son) has lost his job - which means he has to find another job and does not get jobseekers. To claim back travel expenses they need to be on certain benefits which neither of them get.

 

They are both 21yrs and there is nothing in their past that would warrent social services. In fact she has qualifications in early years child care.

 

When they go for new appointment next week they are going to raise the issue with the department. Gizmo you are prob right about putting it in writing - it may be worth raising this issue with PALS.

 

Regards Joan

[jaxads]

I would agree with Pinkpetal -- it's probably something that they've introduced in letters to "cover themselves".

 

Very best wishes to you, your family and the new arrival.

 

jaxads x

[pinkpetal]

Can I just ask, You mention that it is a 32 week scan which is not a "normal" scan time and usually indicates that the hospital are monitoring the baby - is that the case ?? Did they not phone the hospital to let them know they would not be able to attend ?

 

Hosptial's are going to be cautious and refer cases if there is cause for concern, now if there a probelms with the unborn and parents do not attend for appointments, that is just cause for concern. Please remember that social services deal with other issues apart from child abuse, so a referal from the hospital may or may not be beneficial in some cases.

 

Have they checked their eligebility for other benefits ?? and is there not a community car service in their area??

 

Just a thought....

 

Anyway... hope all goes well and that the little one arrives safely

 

X

[tiglet]

In terms of getting transport to hospital, this can be done on medical needs as well as financial ones. It might be worthwhile contacting the hospital, explaining the situation and asking them that as they are so concerned, wouldn't it be more prudent to arrange transport for her?

[Amanda3266]

Hi,

 

I cannot see that your daughter in law has anything to worry about. Did the letter relate specifically to her with the referral to social services or is it something they have on all missed appointment letters.

 

Scans are not compulsory so the fact that she just missed an appointment (for the first time) shouldn't be raising alarm bells for any other reason other than the "was the appointment hard to attend" type of concern.

[bally35]

Scans are not compulsary.I never hadthem with two of mine (due to my brothers wife having a little girl that was born with practically no lungs, and deformed arms and legs-and she had been scanned regularly).

My daughter also has a very rare genetic syndrome witha high incidence of cancer (long, long story) anyhow the upshot of this was that the incompetent imbeciles in charge of her care did not scan her as the protocol for this syndrome dictates .

They responded to my eventual letter of complaint that "ultrasound had never been proven as an effective means of detecting tumours".

In the end (another long story)I got a written apology for fourteen of the points I had made.

Upon recepit of that I then thanked them very much and reminded them that my daughter had until she was 21 to sue them over their negligence (statistically this may not happen in life expectancy).

I did have scan for second baby, who they also told me was going to be another big baby, ahem 5lbs 4oz at birth.

Didnt bother for third child as couldnt see point.

Found out when he was six months old (genticst appointment "lost" for five years) that syndrome was genetic and autsominal dominant with and that I was the carrier. (which meant that my other two kids could have had syndrome as well)

Im sure this is very distressing for you daughter-in-law, as she has already been labelled a bad parent before the child is born.

I would ring and ask if this is a standard letter.

There are cases ironically such as my daughters, where the appointment is made and the parents dont take child, through neglect, religious reasons etc.

This then does become a child protection issue (except where the doctors cant be arsed in the first instance).

The key here is to keep hospital informed if you are not going to be able to make appointment and I would definitelyagree that your daughter should ask if there were any schemes available as transport is difficult (especially sitting on a bus when you are 32weeks pregant).

Good luck to you all, and I hope everything goes well for son and daughter-in -law with new baba1

[borisbeaver]

Get your girlfriend to talk to the PALS team at the hospital. They may be able to help.

 

Also, if your GF is on a low income, talk to the DWP or even, dare I mention it, Social Services. They're not all ogres! (but there are some )

[sinkinfast]

they'll want you to have a 32 week scan because as you said the baby was said to be small. they will keep an eye on growth to ensure its getting enough to eat (placental function)

[gizmo111]

they'll want you to have a 32 week scan because as you said the baby was said to be small. they will keep an eye on growth to ensure its getting enough to eat (placental function)

 

Yes they will want that but scansare not compulsory, implying they will involve social services means that they have other concerns, as social services have no powers to make someone go to a scan unless it is part of a partnership agreement already drawn up, as a result of other concerns.

[sinkinfast]

Not to be too brisk but, in our hospital if we have a client that "fta's (fails to attend) at least 3 times then we have to send out a midwife to the house to find out why.. this often will uncover any problems there may be, and maybe we can offer help to remedy.we consider that its the mothers responsibility to ensure she attends. as a midwife l am not allowed to send or arrange any ambulance transport unless they are in labour. l have never heard of a letter of this manner being sent. naturally s/s take an interest in clients who constantly refuse to attend but this is invariable due to child protection issues. we also expect the mother to have access to phone credit, nappies and sanitary pads!!

the lady in question does not sound like the typical child care concern candidates..

[sinkinfast]

oh, ps.

all tests as you say correctly are completely volentary = we cannot force any mother to undergo any test or procedure against her will.

if she doesnt wish it, l usually spend a long time to ensure she is fully informed of pros and cons , l want her to say she chose knowing full information (informed consent)

[gizmo111]

naturally s/s take an interest in clients who constantly refuse to attend but this is invariable due to child protection issues.

..

 

Not neccasarily - not attending a scan does not automatically flag concern - and unless there were other underlying past issues a referal of this nature would not receive any sort of priority.

 

we also expect the mother to have access to phone credit,

It may be expected and advised - but not enforceable.

 

the lady in question does not sound like the typical child care concern candidates

 

There are no typical cases - and it would be hard to assess concerns on a forum such as this with a few lines of information.