plunket again (rant!)
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15207
Printed Date: 22 July 2025 at 1:59pm
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Topic: plunket again (rant!)
Posted By: Bombshell
Subject: plunket again (rant!)
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:50pm
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ARRRGGGHHHH at plunket east auckland...they are atrocious. At last check I asked to make our 12 month appt as we can only do sat appts...well we (mum was with me) plainly got told we didnt come again til 15 months. I asked if she was sure and she said no make an appt closer to time. Ok so left it at that..
got a message from plunket last week asking why we hadnt made an appt for ellas 12 month appt!!! OMFG i wonder why? so i call up and try to get an appt....didnt tell her who i was - and she said you are meant to have 12 month if first time mum...ok so when can i now get a sat one...ummm in six weeks!!!! i have time on mon morn next week but nothing then either...so i complained BIG time...according to her this is most unusual as they do their best to see people for 12 month appts! yeah right! they have cancelled three times on my sat appts - well tried cause i demand to see someone and only one did i give up! so then i asked her to talk to the lady who had told me there were no more checks til 15 months, and she said ok would you like a home visit...sure i said sat or after hours...oh NO they dont do those!!! so shesaid look i will pass on your complaint...at this point i said really??? how will you do that when you dont know who the lady was, and have no idea who you are speaking to? so THEN she asked me my childs name - my response - forget it Im going to put a complaint in writing....we have had nothing but trouble with getting them to see us...even had to beg for my first ever home appt which should never have happened! what a crock they are....and WHERE do they cater for working parents at all???? arrgggghhhhhh at my local Plunket!!!! |
Replies:
Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 1:59pm
 Is all I have to say about that.
------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:19pm
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South Auckland Plunket are no better!
My nurse has now left, but up until now I had only been given a total of 3 appointments! She kept canceling on me (And Im a full time stay at home mum) week after week till it got to the point that we were missing his milestone checks. My first appointment was when he was 9weeks old ...and that was only when I rung and demanded a Plunket nurse come out and give me an appointment ....supposedly they never got my forms ??? I just feel that they aren't very efficient nor supportive, especially considering I'm a first time, YOUNG & Solo Mother (ok, not extremely young ...im 21 soon). I would have appreciated more help as Lucas hasn't been the easiest of babies, never slept (still doesn't), cried non stop for those first three months ...didn't take his solids until 10 months properly. Everytime I rang my Nurse or Plunketline I got the same answer 'Controlled Crying'...never given an alternative, never shown any support. And whats worse is they don't have any mothers/coffee groups or seminars here in South Auckland like they offer in other areas of NZ ...and i never got told about the solids talk (which incidentally I attended yesterday, a bit embarassing having the monster giant baby with all the tiny 4 month olds) LOL. And regarding 12 month Check BS, our nurse left so my appointment is apparently out the window, yesterday they stuck the scales on the floor in the middle of the room (attended a 1 year mass weigh in for all my former nurses clients who were no longer getting their appointment). Lucas is 12.3kg now, all the other bubbas were 9-10kg max...hes really thickset compared to the other bubs (espesh his tummy)... hopefully he slims down a bit with walking stage. But I think there is no check until 15months because someone said yesterday that there was no page for 12month check in our plunket book? (not sure myself, as haven't looked). ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:19pm
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That really sucks that you are having such a hard time wtih them. I love plunket, I have always had good experiences. But I appreciate that some people don't (I suppose it depends on who your plunket nurse is)! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:24pm
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I think we're lucky in Wellington. Newlands, Jville and Tawa plunkets are fantastic (not trying to rub it in tho).
We had a 12 month check with a plunket volunteer who did they weighing and measuring and gave us appropriate brochures for her age and the had our 15 mo check with the actual nurse. There isn't a section in the book for 12mo but the volunteer wrote notes on one of the blue comments pages. Mum2Lucas Michaela was a real little bhudda too but she lost it all when she started walking/running/dancing etc. and now around the waist she can fit pants she wore when she was a year old (they're halfway up her calves now though). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:27pm
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Oh thats a relief, it is becoming impossible to find pants for him at present as they are all too tight in the waistband! ...he seems to only be growing outwards as opposed to upwards LOL
ETA: Sorry BS thread-jacking argh, back to the topic of plunkets service (or lack thereof) ... ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:38pm
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I have just been for 9 month check up and the nurse booked him in for his 15 month one, she even said it was a long time between them and reminded me of the open clinic, so I told her that I went there before and they were shut
There is definitely a lack of consistency, I have only had the standard milestone appointments, was not told about parenting courses, solids talks etc but then at the 5 month one was asked why I hadn't attended  , my friend who lives in the city has had countless plunket visits from the nurse and the karitane nurse and most of them have been at her house, she also has a coffee group which mine doesn't bother to do.
I do wonder what the point of going to mine is when my gp does the same checks? perhaps my gp is more thorough than most? ------------- 
 
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Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:51pm
My sister stopped havng plunket appts for her son as the nurse was shocking. However mum and I were discussing at lunch time that she should have found an alternative as he has been deaf since he was a baby but was only diagnosed this year (he's 6 yo). Are there any other alternatives to plunket in your area Bombshell? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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cuppatea wrote:Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 2:57pm
Did you have Jo Spittal too? She is wonderful! I was really put off during my first plunket visit which was with a relieving nurse since Jo was on leave. When I mentioned that my DH was going to be a sahd once our baby reached 5 months she asked me whether he was qualified to do so (um excuse me but at 8wo we were as qualified and experienced as each other). Then I met Jo and all fears were allayed. DH loved her too. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 3:01pm
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Jess, Sandy esp but the other nurses up at your new local Plunket have been absolutely awesome for us. Might be worth giving them a try for bubba boy? ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 3:59pm
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I haven't even been contacted for our 15 month appointment!
Long gone now anyway... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 4:10pm
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Cool Jess, I hope they're as great with you and your kids as they are with us.
Also, Jenny Cartwright at the Sunnynook Medical Centre is a really, really lovely family GP if you're looking for a local DR. Bombshell, sorry for the threadjack and sorry you've had such a lousy experience with Plunket! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 4:47pm
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Awww, that sucks that you're still getting the run around BS!
I heart my PLunket nurse, but then I do drive half way acrss Akl to see her, the local one did not impress me at all when she came to do home visits with the gremlins - I think she lost me about the poit where she told me Willie should get a vasectomy - when our twins were 3 weeks old! *rolls eyes* -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 5:02pm
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if i transfer i go to OTARA!!!! hmmmmm NO!!!! altho apparently they are better resourced...funny that!
doc will do it but nurse always suggest we go to plunket...im going to say NO way from now on....they are useless.... M2L - i had to beg for my first appt too and begged for it to be at home one - id had c section and wasnt meant to drive...and even then they reluctantly came and apparently had lost our form too....hmm must be a standard response for them huh? 
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Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 5:15pm
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There is a plunket at Sylvia Park -- I noticed the sign last time I was there, although I didn't manage to find out whether it's a clinic or a family room or what. The Pakuranga Plunket (at the Westfield) is the one we go to, and we've had varying degrees of service. It's been a different nurse every time, which I don't really like. They've ranged from excellent and informative to rude and uninterested. At one visit, before Em had grommets, the nurse had a nursing student there to observe the appointment and when she started telling me how concerned she was about Em's hearing, she actually turned to the student and talked to him as though I wasn't there. I couldn't believe it. However, when we went for Em's two-year check, the nurse we had was lovely. I've found that I have to call them to make appointments, and I have to be vigilant about it. Usually I ring and tell thenm when I can come, and what times are good, and then they ring back and confirm on the answerphone. It's always phone tag. I've never had them contact me to make an appointment -- I've always had to do it. As a first-time mum you're also entitled to extra appointments above and beyond the "official" ones in the book -- I had to ask for those too but I did get them. |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 8:35pm
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snapwe go to the same one...well did!!!
I rang for four days and failed to get someone to answer!!! so i refused to leavve message and kept trying.... |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 9:27pm
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I got a 12month with Rhyley and a 14 month (home visit) and a 15th month - and I am not a first time mother. Isn't that funny, different plunkets do different things. I find it strange though I don't go there till 2 years old now ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 9:35pm
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I have been very impressed with our local plunket out here in Hobsonville so far. They ring me the day before my appointment to remind me and they are always very thorough and helpful.
I have heard lots of bad stories though, so am surprised I get great service! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 9:42pm
| We also had our 12 month one with the karitane nurse (or someone who wasn't our plunket nurse) and then 15 month with the official nurse. My old plunket was a lot better tho the karitane nurse came round numerous times to help me out with breastfeeding when Jack was small. Its a shame some aren't so great because they give the great ones a bad name. |
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 11 March 2008 at 11:49pm
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Awww sucks about bad service from plunket. I hope you find a better one soon BS. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 12 March 2008 at 9:11am
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I wasnt too impressed with Plunket at the start when I lived in Christchurch. They rang me the day before my first appointment to tell me when it would be. I was going away so they just said "you will have to miss youo first well child check then" WTF? couldnt they reschedule it? Then when I moved out to the country she didnt forward my notes even though the nurse out here asked twice!
HOWEVER, Plunket in Amberley is EXCELLENT. They hold monthly coffee groups with the karitane nurse giving little talks and we can all get our babies weighed then too. I turned up early on Monday and got half an hour one on one with the karitane nurse. Then a committee member turned up and handed out new baby packs to all of us as they hadnt got them out last year or something so I got another change mat, a wooden teething ring, some stackable cups and some yummy bath salts for me. VERY IMPRESSED! |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 12 March 2008 at 10:39pm
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Wow I'm jealous nzpiper, I soooo wish we had monthly coffee groups here and got free stuff! ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 13 March 2008 at 9:18pm
| kels - nah I give up on them....will just pop into docs when i want to me thinks.... |
Posted By: BabyKiwi
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 8:58pm
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We have had reasonable service from Plunket. The plunket nurse came out on the first visit to our home and the rest so far at the clinic, they always call the day before to remind me and have even scheduled one for 7 months. The plunket nurse we have is ok, she doesn't really answer my questions, just weighs and measures DD.
Like a few of the others have said, my GP does the same checks as plunket and my plunket visits always coincide with jabs anyway, so whats the point of having bubs looked at twice!? It's no wonder that plunket is going down the tubes. |
Posted By: popcorn
Date Posted: 24 March 2008 at 9:11pm
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Hey Mum2Lucas
I live here in Papakura too and have a really great plunket nurse she is super flexible. do you go to the one on Orchard Rise? I have been to a karitane nurse at the elizabeth campbell centre too which was good. They run a coffee group weekly down there for 1 year olds? it was on when I went to the appointment looked like fun! |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 8:43am
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I actually feel sorry for the plunket nurses in some areas. The one in the Howick main street is good
There is a shortage unfortunately of plunket nurses just like nurses and doctors and what plunket nurses there are have really big case loads. Also the government should never have closed the karitane hospitals all those 30 years ago |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 4:41pm
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yep i agree with the karitane hosp comment...altho i am a firm beleiver that the old kingseat etc should still be open too LOL!
I might actually see if we can transfer to Otara....anyone know if we can "transfer" - apparently they are better funded Hmmmmm wonder why and we are one street out of their zone...LOL!!! |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 7:24pm
You can ask to transfer. Lots of people do apparently. A friend of mine is a Plunket nurse and she said Sylvia Park is the trendy clinic atm because you can have your baby weighed and go out for coffee.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:39pm
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SimoneF ...sorry I only just realised you had left a msg in here addressing me
I think the 1 year old coffee group is a once off thing, I'm yet to find a coffee group in the area that has regular meet ups, they all seem to get canceled. May I ask who your Plunket Nurse is? We had Angela (who has since left) but my Aunty that lives out in Drury has someone else, can't remember her name off the top of my head but I'm sure it will click if its the same lady you have! ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:53pm
We started off really well, I loved our plunket nurse and she was awesome. But somewhere between our 8 month check (I think?) and the 12 month one, she has disappeared  transferred to another area. We've had different nurses every time now and all stand-ins. While they're not horrible, they're also not great - no real information given, just weigh and measure and tick the boxes. The last one was more interested in how my pregnancy was going!
So ups and downs here. But I do feel sorry for them, they are way under-staffed and under-resourced. ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: NeoshasMummy
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 9:10pm
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Thats strange I have been so impressed with Gisborne plunket, they were awfully slack in Hamilton while I was there though. I guess the bigger cities have less nurses to go around which sucks but from this end then are much more helpful and supportive than I found my midwife to even be. Its a shame u r having such a hard time with them ------------- https://secure.fertilityfriend.com/home/30c4ec/" rel="nofollow">  Mrs Te Kani ❤️ Neosha 26/5/2007 |