Page 4667 - Week 15 - Thursday, 21 November 1991
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say, Mr Speaker, that by far the most effective way in which those at risk of suffering postnatal depression and of perpetrating child abuse are detected is through case work consultation between health professionals during antenatal care, confinement in hospital and follow-up home visits.
Community nurses have detected cases of postnatal depression and child abuse on home visits - - -
Mr Humphries: Thank you.
MR BERRY: But very rarely on a routine home visit to a normal mother. I point out to you, Mr Humphries, recent reports in the Canberra Times of a serious child abuse matter where community nurses had discovered nothing in relation to the matter. No other State, Mr Speaker, undertakes routine first home visits to new mothers. The emphasis for detection of these sorts of things is, as I have said, through case work consultation between health professionals during antenatal care, confinement in hospital and follow-up home visits. They are not to be confused with routine first home visits to new mothers.
Mr Humphries: So, you concede that some people might slip through the net.
MR BERRY: If you will allow me to continue, from January 1992 the ACT will adopt this policy, enabling the resources to be devoted to clients with special needs and to parenting groups. This does not mean that mothers will be discharged from hospital after their confinement and left to fend for themselves. So, let us have no more emotive language.
Mr Humphries: So, you are cutting out first home visits.
MR BERRY: Before leaving hospital, Mr Speaker and Mr Humphries, if you care to listen, every mother will be given a package of information on services for new mothers, including infant health clinics, parenting groups and immunisation clinics, lactation feeding advice and other support services.
This is the important part, Mr Speaker. New mothers identified as having special needs, including possible postnatal depression and child abuse, will be followed up by a home visit in the first week after leaving hospital. A case management plan for the new mother would then be drawn up by the community nurse. Points to remember, Mr Speaker: The emphasis should be on consultation between health professionals during antenatal care, confinement in hospital and follow-up home visits. Routine first home visits to new mothers do not occur in other States. I think we have to make sure that there are no more emotive statements about what might occur when the management of services is changed by ACT Health. The issue is one of deciding which mothers and babies require the service and providing it.
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