Health visiting in Leeds
Download (PDF 2.65 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Leeds wanted to speak to people who have recently been in contact with the health visiting team. The aim was to get people’s views about the service and how it worked for them. We were also aware that the health visiting service is expected to be recommissioned in 2018 and therefore the feedback gathered could be used to influence the commissioning process. Healthwatch worked in partnership with Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) and spoke to over 240 people in clinics and breastfeeding groups across Leeds.
Overall there were very high levels of satisfaction with the service, with 90% of respondents rating it as excellent or good. The majority of respondents had a named health visitor, however 1 in 10 didn’t have one or were not sure if they did.
There were good levels of awareness (90%) about what the health visiting service should be providing. Most of the respondents (89%) had received all the visits and contacts that they should have had.
There were some concerns about missed visits and contacts that were then not rescheduled or followed up.
There were good levels of satisfaction with the handover from midwife to health visitor. There was some concern expressed by a number of respondents about feeling confused about the role and involvement of different health professionals, such as midwife and health visitor.
Baby clinics, support groups and one to one support from the health visitors were highlighted as being particularly helpful.
Over a quarter of respondents suggested there were things that could be done better. For example: Needing more consistent information and advice; Having more frequent visits, and More flexibility in the service to meet the needs of each individual family.
There were very low levels of awareness (29%) about where to raise a concern if there were any problems with the service.
A quarter of respondents had needed extra support from the health visiting service with things like breastfeeding and emotional support. There were high levels of satisfaction with the extra support provided