Where shall I take my child when they are unwell?
Having an unwell child can be very scary and challenging even for the most experienced parents. Sometimes the best place for children to go is hospital. But often there are other places to go where they can be safely looked after (and sometimes better).
Here is a guide.
1. A&E and 999. If you think that it is a life-threatening situation or an emergency where you need help immediately, call 999 or urgently attend A&E. Some example illnesses include: shortness of breath, not breathing, severe abdominal pain, major bleeding and seizures.
There is usually a separate ‘Children’s A&E’, which is part of an A&E. If you are not sure that your local hospital has one, check before you go. For this reason, it may be better to drive past a local smaller hospital, to a larger more distant one.
2. Minor Illness/Injury Unit (MIU). If you child has injured themselves or broken a bone, they can often be seen by a ‘see and treat’ team who work in a MIU. These services often have shorter wait times than A&E. MIUs are often in or hear hospitals. Google your local one.
3. Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), or Walk-in Centre. If your child needs to be the same day but the GP is closed or you are struggling to get an appointment – you should consider a Urgent Treatment (or Care) Centre (UTC, or UCC) or Walk-in Centre. These are similar.
These are centres with experienced nurse practitioners and GPs who can see and treat your child, when they are unlikely to need admission to hospital. Some things they may be able to treat: urinary infections, simple chest infections, ear infections or sore throat.
UTCs are often in or hear hospitals. Google your local one.
4. Ring NHS111. If in doubt get medical assistance and advice using the 111 number. The team will direct you to an appropriate service, or make an appointment with your GP to get the problem investigated.
5. Self-care. For non-urgent medical conditions, you should consider basic self-care measures such as encouraging oral intake, over-the-counter medications – and appropriate use of pain relief, such as paracetamol.
6. Your GP. If this a long term health condition that has not changed recently but still needs medical attention, you should visit your local GP.
General point – medication and medical record
When attending out-of-hours services (including A&E) it is helpful to bring your child’s current medication, and medical record if you have it. Babies often have a ‘red book’; and it is really helpful for medical staff, if you bring this with you.
Summary
We have described where you should take your child when they are unwell. We hope it has been helpful.
Other resources
Stay informed as much as possible using trusted information, such as ‘The Little Orange Book’: Little-orange-book-NHS-March-2017.pdf (gateshead.gov.uk)
