Routine visits to check children’s health, well-being and development are to be scaled back as NHS Fife continues to restructure its primary resources during the on-going coronavirus crisis.
The move means the majority of families will not now receive the regular check-ups for their young ones designed to monitor growth and global development.
A spokesman for NHS Fife said: “We’re having to make some temporary changes to our Health Visiting service.
“We will be scaling back some routine contacts and this may mean children will not receive their next child health review – these will resume as soon as possible.
“Information on age-typical development is contained within each child’s Red Book, and you can still contact your health visiting team in the same way as before.”
However, they confirmed that child vaccinations would continue at the present time.
“Immunisations appointments will continue to be offered as normal – if you have any queries then contact the immunisation team,” said the spokesperson.
And it was stressed that if parents or carers suspected any health concerns regarding the child that they contact the NHS Inform www.nhsinform.scot or call NHS 24 on 111 as they would normally.
Parents are also being advised that a raft of support information regarding to diet, first foods, child’s play and children’s development could also be accessed online.
Meanwhile, As part of NHS Fife’s response to coronavirus, the Haematology/Oncology Day Unit is to relocate to the antenatal unit on level 2 of Queen Margaret Hospital.
NHS Fife said it has now contacted patients who are due to have appointments early next week and letters are in the process of being sent to those with appointments further into the future.
A spokesman added: “We’re sorry for the inconvenience this may cause, and very much appreciate the continued understanding shown by patients as we reconfigure our services to make them as safe as they can possibly be over the coming weeks.”
