I am a first time mom & my son Theo was born in February 2021 and since then he has only been seen once by a health visitor face to face. Despite multiple calls and requests from myself and my fellow mothers to arrange a face to face appointments for our babies, all we get is zoom appointments, even for a 10 months check up. 

It is absolutely impossible to determine the health of the child as well as his current developmental levels through the lens of a camera. However it is even more impossible to assess the situation at home. Zoom reviews HAVE TO BE scrapped.

As a mother of a 9 months old baby born in the middle of the lockdown, seeing the latest news about the tragic and shocking death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has shook me and the community of mothers I am part of. Home visits for babies and toddlers are absolutely ESSENTIAL for the health and safety of the children. 

After speaking to a number of mothers, it transpired that none of them seem to be getting home visits, which means so many children will be missed with the online check ups. It is sad a grave & sad situation, which needs to be changed. 

It is paramount that if a mother raises a concern that it should be respected and seen to, however at the moment it seems that we have to discuss any queries on forums or within mum groups and the help of the health professionals, which is so essential, especially during the first year of a childs life is either virtual or non-existent.