Paediatric attendances across our area are currently very high and our Urgent Care Clinical Directors are working hard with our partners to address this. We understand the pressure is across all systems.
We urgently need your help to address this issue. Please see some suggested actions below for consideration at practice and/or PCN level.
1) Chronic condition children - please make sure they have had their flu spray/jab, and review management plans to help and guide parents. Only around 10% of local 2-5 year olds have currently been immunised. We would encourage all practices to have someone identified to call and recall these cohorts to offer the vaccine to them. We are now entering a crucial time in the flu season and offering the vaccine to all of your qualifying cohorts will help protect them.
2) Regular immunisations - please try to support regular immunisations to prevent these illnesses (we are aware that some boroughs are doing extra campaigns for MMR).
3) Through discussion at practice and PCNs - consider ways of using access slots for children where appropriate.
4) Use alternative pathways for greater access and expert opinion - e.g. Hot clinics / advice and guidance / speaking to assigned specialist nurses in children's plan (where indicated). A BHRUT consultant paediatrician can be contacted on 01708 435 000 ext 6134 for clinical queries only - Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
5) Simple advice - consider triaging though e-consults / pharmacy / and use of social prescribing services for additional services in the community.
We welcome any thoughts you may have regarding gaps in the service you are experiencing for children causing A&E attendances, please contact Carla Morgan at: carla.morgan3@nhs.net
Thank you for your continuing hard work to support your young patients through this winter period.
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