Health Checks at School

surreysaver

IrishRose12 wrote: »

And even if they didn't have concerns, they wouldn't be concerned, but they would keep it in mind and a note would be kept of it, and if given the reason also.

Like I am keeping in mind the fact that there are healthcare 'professionals' out there willing to do checks on children without parental consent. Bringing the whole profession into disrepute.

surreysaver

Person_one wrote: »

No, but it is our job (both teachers and health professionals) to explain to parents why the checks are a good idea and encourage them to accept the services offered to them that are there for their child's benefit.

But this thread isn't about parents accepting the checks. It is about the checks being automatically performed without parental consent.

FBaby

And of course these checks are ALWAYS really helpful
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...ren-obese.html

Well to me it is obvious just looking at the two girls that indeed, these checks are helpful as clearly the mothers can't see a problem. The older girl is fine, but if she used to be very slim, could see how there could be concerns. The 2 year old is clearly overweight. Considering the mum is too, then yes, she is certainly a good case to follow.

The boys look fine, but then we don't see them naked. My DD looks exactly the same, yet I was shocked when he took his clothes off to notice he had cellulitis on his stomach! He had put on weight recently due to eating unhealthy snacks when coming home. It is around that time that the form came home and he told me he didn't want to be weighted at school. We discussed the fact the check in itself didn't mean anything but that he had put on a bit of weight recently (as I) and that together, we would take the opportunity to be more watchful of what we eat. He has done exactly that since of his own accord. I think he has learnt much more about the issue from our discussion that he would at home. I asked him last week if he had had the check yet, he said no but was clearly not bothered any longer. I wouldn't surprise if it came back that he was overweight because he is a very tall boy and very bone heavy, but it will change nothing to how we are all, as a family, watching our weigths in a healthy way.

And you think I sound hysterical - I think if people cannot see this, then the need to not seek proper consent will slowly creep to other situations. As it is currently doing. It needs nipping in the bud.

Paranoia is exactly that, thinking that something unsignificant in itself is bound to lead to some kind of dramatic disaster.

FBaby

Also, as I've already posted on the first page, that check picked up something with both my children's sights that have not been picked up by any other healthcare professionals they had seen until then. I had no reason to suspect in any way that there was a problem. My DD often saw double, but assumed it was normal. She had to be operated on before she reached the age of 7 to improve her sight as after that age, the eye doesn't adjust any longer despite surgery.

How guilty would I have felt if I had decided to opted out of the check (for what reason, I'm still to read one that would make sense), and this had not been picked up, leaving her with a disability that would have affected her for all her life.

That's why these checks are for, in addition to gather information to allow the NHS to make public health decisions, not to bare judgement on parenting styles, but again, some parents are to self-centered to appreciate it has nothing to do with THEM but to do with the health of their children.

FBaby

But this thread isn't about parents accepting the checks. It is about the checks being automatically performed without parental consent.

Both issues have been raised.

Person_one

FBaby wrote: »

My DD looks exactly the same, yet I was shocked when he took his clothes off to notice he had cellulitis on his stomach! He had put on weight recently due to eating unhealthy snacks when coming home.

Do you mean cellulite?

If so, its not usually connected to weight, even underweight people can have it.

surreysaver

FBaby wrote: »

Paranoia is exactly that, thinking that something unsignificant in itself is bound to lead to some kind of dramatic disaster.

It will do. The reason consent needs to be asked for every little thing is because of disasters in the past when people have given healthcare 'professionals' too much trust and felt too intimidated to question them..

surreysaver

FBaby wrote: »

How guilty would I have felt if I had decided to opted out of the check (for what reason, I'm still to read one that would make sense), and this had not been picked up, leaving her with a disability that would have affected her for all her life.

Any decent parent would be taking their child to the optician once a year for a check anyway, and wouldn't need the school nurse to pick up on it. And it is not about opting out - there should be no need for parents to opt out, as they need to be opting in by the school nursing staff asking for proper consent.

FBaby wrote: »

That's why these checks are for, in addition to gather information to allow the NHS to make public health decisions, not to bare judgement on parenting styles, but again, some parents are to self-centered to appreciate it has nothing to do with THEM but to do with the health of their children.

And it is also about teaching children that they should not be doing what those they perceive to be in authority tell them to do automatically. It should be about asking for consent. By all means do what you want with me or my children, but after having asked for permission as the law requires. It is about respect, recognising who is in authority, common courtesy and decency, and not overstepping the line.

mrcow

Person_one wrote: »

Do you mean cellulite?

If so, its not usually connected to weight, even underweight people can have it.

I'm a little more concerned about his freakishly heavy bones?

He should see a doctor about that.

jellyhead

surreysaver wrote: »

But this thread isn't about parents accepting the checks. It is about the checks being automatically performed without parental consent.

I suspect that if teacher lists of who returns consent forms, etc. even for a pleasant trip with no cost, were studied, the children whose parents never return consent forms would be the ones who need the checks because they are the least likely to be taken for optician and dental appointments by their parents.

I don't mean that to sound nasty, but some parents have to be chased by teachers whenever a consent is needed, even for a trip to the park, or swimming lessons, or a food tasting session where the child is clearly desperate to join in with the rest of the class. Those are the children with rotten teeth, generally.

I said earlier that the lad who is living with us has never seen a dentist. I have registered him with a dentist, but he's 18 now and I can't force him. He's scared. I'll continue to work on him. He sat in the waiting room last time. His 15 year old sister lived with us for 3 months, and she's never seen one either. There is an 8 year old still living in the house they left, who also has never seen one. Back in my day there was a school dentist - for the sake of families like this one I wish there still was! The 8 year old might have seen one in reception class, but isn't registered with an actual dentist.

Perhaps neglect would be better picked up if the checks involved making sure that children are actually registered with a dentist!