It can be extremely stressful when your child is unwell. We know that there is a huge amount of information available at your fingertips, but finding something that provides clear and accurate information is not always easy!
The resources on the Healthier Together have been developed in partnership between parents and NHS healthcare professionals from across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You'll find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep your child comfortable and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last.
Most importantly, the resources are used not only by parents but also by healthcare professionals. This means that your child is likely to receive consistently high-quality care, irrespective of which healthcare provider you take them to see. And their advice is likely to mirror that on Healthier Together. Reducing unnecessary variation improves the overall quality of care and reduces the parental anxiety that inconsistent advice generates
Core Principles
1. Parents feel empowered about whether and when they need to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.
2. Parents are clearly signposted to appropriate healthcare services when required.
3. At every point of contact, the healthcare practitioner (doctor, nurse, paramedic, pharmacist) should have a clear understanding of the limits of their own competence and when and where to seek guidance.
4. Parents should receive consistent and appropriate advice across the whole urgent care system.
5. Standardisation of local referral pathways and clinical guidelines across the whole acute care system, which are understood by all healthcare practitioners.
6. Effective communication and information sharing between healthcare practitioners and services across the whole acute care system should be in place.
We have actively listened to the views of parents/carers accessing the service as well as the healthcare professionals delivering urgent care pediatric services. By working together we aim to improve how care is delivered to children and young people in Wessex.