Where should you take young children when they are ill?

Trips to GPs and A&E for minor, ‘self-treatable’ conditions, such as a sore throat or a stomach ache, cost the NHS around £850 million a year.

A survey has found that only 6% of parents with children under the age of five who have a minor illness would seek help from a pharmacist first. 35% would visit their GP, whilst 5% would go straight to A&E.

The NHS campaign “Stay Well Pharmacy” has been created in order to urge people to visit a pharmacist in order to relieve some of the pressure faced by GPs and allow those who are the sickest to be seen first.

The campaign has stressed that children with symptoms such as an ongoing high temperature should still visit their GP, but for the more ‘self-treatable’ illnesses, a pharmacist should be the first port of call.

Every year, there are roughly 18 million GP visits and 2.1 million A&E visits for minor illnesses and injuries that could have been ‘self-treated.’ These appointments cost the NHS the same as 220,000 hip replacements or 880,000 cataract surgeries.

Pharmacists are highly trained and are able to give medical advice and assess any symptoms. They will recommend treatment and are trained to know when to refer an individual to a GP or A&E.

The Patients Association has stated that it is essential that parents do still visit their GP or A&E if they think their child could have a more serious illness. They should not be discouraged from seeking further medical advice beyond that of a pharmacist as a result of this campaign.

Amanda Cavanagh, a Medical Negligence Specialist at Ashtons Legal, says: “There are clear benefits in utilising the skills of a pharmacist for minor ailments. However, when it comes to young children, parents should not be pressured into visiting a pharmacist first if they have serious concerns. To do so may cause a delay in treatment which in young children can be the difference between a serious illness being treatable or becoming a tragedy. For example over 50% of cases of meningitis occur in children under the age of five and it can strike quickly and kill within hours.”