New children’s illness resource available for parents from NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board

A new resource has been launched to help parent identify a range of common children’s illnesses from coughs, colds and rashes to difficulty breathing and chickenpox.

The resource, which is available on the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board website, will make it easier for parents to find out about common illnesses and know when to seek treatment.

Many illnesses can be treated at home with over-the-counter medication from a pharmacist but in some cases, children may need to see a health professional, if it is serious.

It is hoped the information will help parents to know when to seek further treatment and provide reassurance for many common illnesses.

Dr Janine Elson, deputy medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “This resource is a fantastic tool for parents, and I would encourage everyone to take a look.

“It is important that parents know what to look out for, when to seek help and how to treat these illnesses and having all the information in one place will be a great help.

“Whether it is a cough, a rash or a high temperature, it can be very worrying to see your child unwell but knowing the signs and symptoms to look out for will help parents to make confident decisions around when to seek help and how to find treatment.

“We hope this information will help children to be seen in the right place and by the right person over the busy winter period.

“There is nothing worse than sitting for hours at an emergency department when a pharmacy could have treated you in a few minutes.

“If you are ever in doubt about the service you need, take a look at the webpages on the local NHS website or call 111 and a trained clinician can help.”