I’ve experienced rampant ableism from the Health Visitor team… so refusing to recognise my partner as a primary parent for this appointment is really just the misogyny icing on the horrific discrimination cake.

For all the “it’s safeguarding” reply guys. If they were worried about safeguarding why did they refuse me & my baby healthcare at 8 weeks? The health visitor wouldn’t enter the room because my guide dog was there. They didn’t check my baby, they didn’t ask about my well-being.

@BlondeHistorian Sooo frustrating. Have you tried the Sarah Millican technique? Just say "No" and hang up on them :D

@jamanda They texted me

@BlondeHistorian Sue them Both under Equality Act 2010 AND GDPR

@EqtNet Cool you going to pay for that?

@BlondeHistorian What is a health visitor?

@yoMamaLilith A healthcare worker who supports women & babies. They do reviews of development goals and refer to other services if needed.

@BlondeHistorian They just don’t get it, do they?? And they don’t even wait to do it!! What is your view of why this is happening so much these days? I’m so frustrated and dumbfounded by what I have seen over the last 5 years and it also scares me. 2/

@LinaBoo8 I think the training is inadequate. I also think it was happening but we didn’t have a space like social media to share it

@BlondeHistorian Wow that’s disgusting- I’m shocked that happened to you. However, I think they have to make sure that it’s not DV / CC.

@PPI_poppet They weren’t concerned about safeguarding when they refused to conduct my 8 week appointment because my guide dog was present. Why can’t fathers take their children to medical appointments?

@BlondeHistorian Obviously I’m not aware of the details of this, however the HV is there to check on both mum and baby, perhaps there is a safeguarding element to them continuing to contact you? In case there are any issues occurring that they may miss if they don’t see you in person?

@clothesstalker1 Except it’s against my explicit wishes. They also didn’t care about safeguarding when they refused to do my 8 week visit because my guide dog was in the room.

@BlondeHistorian A man asking a health visitor to contact him rather than his partner after a birth would be an immediate red flag to me. I'm sorry you were treated the way you were, there's no excuse for it but some men do control access to their partners.

@ra_tigger For all the “it’s safeguarding” reply guys. If they were worried about safeguarding why did they refuse me & my baby healthcare at 8 weeks? The health visitor wouldn’t enter the room because my guide dog was there. They didn’t check my baby, they didn’t ask about my well-being.

@BlondeHistorian Sadly in this case, ethically the health visitor did follow correct procedure.

@BevertonSue No she didn’t. She ignored my wishes & clear previous instructions. Then she ignored my partner who communicated these instructions again.

@BlondeHistorian Shaking my head

@BlondeHistorian Talking to some folks these days is like talking to a wall. Had a phone conversation with someone yesterday who refused to let me explain why I was calling, constantly talking over me, despite saying, "Please let me explain." Eventually I said, "You're rude," and hung up. 🙄😒