It’s been a busy week and 4 y.o. C. has been unwell.  In a dramatic turn of events, we ended up for a couple of days in CHI Crumlin with fevers 😱.  Don’t worry – he’s fine. He’s only delighted with the amount of apple juice and cartoons to be found in hospital. A trip in an ambulance (transfer from urgent care) was simply fantastic in his books.  But since I’m sitting here forced to enjoy the all of the HSE amenities while he sleeps, it’s a great time to revisit a previous topic:

Top tips for the ED with children try: Ochpas reflects on his ED visit

Make no mistake:  this winter will be a rough one in paediatric emergency departments and on wards.  This isn’t just in Ireland!  There are many factors contributing to this (including flu, covid, RSV)

You can do your part by 1) considering options such as GP, pharmacy, public or private urgent cares when you child is ill. 2) take steps to stay healthy such  as washing hands,  getting #fluvaccine and wearing masks on crowded public transport.

What not to do? If you are worried and unsure about your child’s health, phone your GP or Out of Hours GP service. Do not crowd source medical advice from social media or WhatsApp mammy groups. Despite what is printed in the media, it is not the job of a truly worried patient to know when not to go to the ED.

While the odd person may misuse services, there is a real danger that truly unwell and vulnerable people may not seek the care they need due to media messaging about trolley crises.

Look Back if you missed it:  Fevers  and Fact-check: Does your immune system need boosting this winter?