Taking your child to the Emergency Department (ED) can be an incredibly stressful and overwhelming experience.
Here are ten essential tips to help you navigate a trip to the paediatric emergency department.
1. Prepare a Clear History When you see the doctor or nurse, try to provide a clear, brief summary of what has happened. Start from when the problem began and highlight the main symptoms. Think of it as giving them the headlines first!
Note: You will likely have to repeat your story to several different healthcare professionals. It is a vital safety measure to ensure no small, crucial details are missed.
2. Bring the Essentials: Medications and the Red Book If your child takes regular medications, bring them with you or have a list. This is absolutely essential time-critical for conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, or if your child has a specific, complex feeding regimen.
If your child is young enough, always remember to bring their “Red Book” (Personal Child Health Record), as it contains invaluable information about their growth, immunisations, and early health history.
3. Keep the Entourage Small Emergency departments are busy, cramped, and often overwhelming environments. While it is natural for extended family to be concerned, bringing everyone to the hospital creates crowding and can increase the risk of spreading infections.
If at all possible, try to arrange for someone else to look after siblings at home, and stick to bringing just the essential caregivers – no more than two people!
4. Set the Right Expectations The ED is designed for true emergencies—conditions that are life-threatening or need immediate intervention.
It is not the place to fast-track routine outpatient investigations. If your child has been waiting for a scan or a specialist appointment for a long-standing, stable issue, the emergency doctors will not be able to expedite it for you.
5. Ask Yourself: Can this wait for the GP? Before heading to the hospital, take a moment to assess the situation. Is this something your General Practitioner could manage? GPs are experts in childhood illnesses.
If the issue has been going on for weeks without suddenly worsening, or if it’s a minor ailment, calling your GP surgery for a same-day or routine appointment is often the better, faster route.
6. Remember Martha’s Rule You know your child best. If you feel that your child’s condition is rapidly deteriorating and your concerns are not being heard, you have the right to ask for an urgent second opinion from a critical care team. This initiative, known as Martha’s Rule, is being rolled out across the NHS to empower patients and parents. Do not be afraid to politely but firmly advocate for your child.
7. Try Self-Care First If your child is in pain or has a fever that is making them miserable, give them over-the-counter medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen before you come to the hospital. You will not mask their symptoms, but you will make them much more comfortable while you wait.
Also, keep in mind that hospitals generally do not act as pharmacies for minor ailments; they will not send you home with bottles of paracetamol or ibuprofen, so it’s best to keep a supply at home. Please note, children under with a fever need to be seen in hospital.
8. Use Reliable Sources for Advice The internet is full of terrifying medical misinformation. If you are worried, stick to trusted, evidence-based resources.
Two excellent tools for parents are the Little Orange Book (available as a PDF online) and the Healthier Together website or app (https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk). These are designed by paediatricians to help you figure out when to treat at home, when to see a GP, and when to go to the ED.
9. Choose the Right Healthcare Provider The Emergency Department isn’t always the right front door. Depending on the issue, you might get much quicker and more appropriate care elsewhere:
Pharmacies: Great for minor ailments like mild rashes, conjunctivitis, or teething.
Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs): Perfect for minor injuries, suspected broken bones, or cuts needing stitches.
Specialist Clinics: Consider if the issue is better suited for a sexual health clinic or a dedicated mental health crisis team.
10. Do Not Expect Antibiotics Every Time Many parents leave the ED surprised or frustrated that they weren’t given antibiotics. Most childhood illnesses, especially respiratory and tummy bugs, are caused by viruses. Antibiotics simply do not work on viruses and can actually cause unpleasant side effects.
If the doctor says no, remain curious—ask them to explain why they don’t think they are needed. Advocate for your child, but remember that strict antibiotic policies exist to protect us all from superbugs, and the healthcare team is always acting in your child’s best interest.
Finerenone – a tablet used for chronic kidney disease and heart failure Finerenone is a tablet for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes and certain types of heart failure. What...
What is a Normal Human Being? There is no such thing as a normal human being, as there is such a wide range of normality (both anatomy and physiology). Let’s look at those ranges. Anatomy Height...
How to Prevent Cancer: 10 Science-Backed Ways to Lower Your Risk While there is no “magic wand” to guarantee a cancer-free life, clinical research consistently shows that nearly 40% of can...
What does the heart do? (7 facts) The heart is the engine of the human body. As a specialized muscular pump, its primary role is to circulate blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every cell while...
