Health advice for parents and carers this autumn

Four of the region’s senior health leaders have come together as children across the North West go back to school, to raise awareness of guidance and support available that could help to keep children out of hospital.

Last year, attendances at A&E for children went up by 32% in September compared to the previous month.

They are promoting messages about managing childhood asthma, where to find a simple symptom checker and prevention advice about the benefits of flu vaccine programme.

Dr Michael Gregory, NHS England North West’s most senior doctor and Medical Director, has some advice for parents with children who have asthma: “Returning to school should be an exciting time for children, but when children do go back after the summer holidays, they can be exposed to more things that can trigger their asthma. Colds and flu viruses and dust mites are some of the biggest culprits.

“Some children may fall out of their usual preventer inhaler routines over the summer break which can leave them much more vulnerable to an asthma attack.”

According to Asthma and Lung UK there are spikes in attendance at hospital for asthma every year after children return to school in September.

Dr Gregory added: “The best thing parents can do is to prevent their children having an asthma attack is to ensure they take their preventer inhaler  every day as prescribed, this helps calm the inflammation in their airways and reduces the risk of an asthma attack.

“We would encourage parents to ensure that their child has their reliever inhaler and spacer at school to use if they have asthma symptoms and ensure their child has a yearly review with their GP or asthma nurse.”

Clinical experts at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have also developed a free-to-use, simple symptom checker for some common childhood conditions, which can be used by families across the North West region. 

Dr Matt Rotheram, Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, added: “Parents can use our online symptom checker tool to find information on several of the most common symptoms in children requiring urgent care or advice.

“The tool helps parents understand where best to get the right care for their child’s needs and can get them to the right help or advice, faster.

“The symptom checker tool is fast, easy to use and reliable, and offers advice you can trust.”

The symptom checker can be found on the Alder Hey website.

If parents have questions about common childhood ailments, high-street pharmacies can also be accessed as a good source of expert advice.

Karen O’Brian, NHS England’s North West Regional Chief Pharmacist, said: “Parents and carers generally know if there’s something wrong. If you want advice and help your community pharmacist has a range of knowledge and skills to help with common ailments and offer the best clinical advice.”

Parents are also encouraged to take up the offer of a free flu vaccine in primary school for all children in reception to year 6 and return their signed consent form to schools as soon as possible.

Younger children aged two and three will be invited for a free flu vaccine by their GP practice.

Tricia Spedding, Regional Head of Public Health, is the North West’s lead for the flu vaccination programme. She said: “The flu vaccine helps to protect young people, their families and friends from flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia at a time when Covid-19 is also likely to be circulating.

“Children are offered the vaccine in the form of a painless nasal spray and an injectable alternative is available for those who can’t take the nasal spray.”

For any further health advice check www.111.nhs.uk