Coronavirus & Children Accessing Healthcare
COVID-19 is an illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. We can all help to protect ourselves and our families by following good hygiene practices. For further government information on the restrictions and staying safe please click here.
COVID-19 updates and information in British Sign Language can be accessed on SignHealth’s website.
Children Accessing Healthcare During COVID-19
Health services are open, however some services are being delivered differently — for example you may be offered a telephone or video consultation with your GP in the first instance rather than an automatic face-to-face appointment. Do not delay calling your GP if you are concerned about your child’s health. If you need immediate assistance, dial 999 or attend A&E. Hospital is still the safest place for your child if they are seriously ill. The children and young people’s accident and emergency departments and general inpatient wards are open at University College Hospital and at the Royal Free Hospital.
If any parent is unsure where to take a child in need of emergency treatment they should visit 111.nhs.uk or call the NHS 111 service. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999 immediately.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown, families across the borough have been under an extreme amount of stress and rates of child abuse (physical, sexual and emotional harm and/or neglect) are likely to have increased significantly during this time. Please make every encounter you have with a child over the coming months count. Whatever your job role, ask all children and young people how the lockdown period has been for them.
For more information download the leaflet below.
I’m concerned about coronavirus
- Coronavirus is unlikely to make your child unwell, but other illnesses may make your child severely unwell.
- There are lots of measures in place to protect you and your child from coronavirus if you need to attend.
- Please do let the medical team know if your child has coronavirus symptoms — a fever or cough. It won’t affect the quality of the care you receive but it will ensure that those looking after you and children around you are sufficiently protected.
Immunisations
Immunisations for young children and baby checks after birth are essential for your child’s health and are still being delivered by your GP.
Maternity services
Please be assured that our local hospitals Royal Free and UCLH continue to run maternity services from the settings. Additional measures have been put in place to allow the safety of patients and staff. Parents of new born children will also continue to receive home visits within 5 days of the birth of their child. If you have any concerns or symptoms please discuss this with your Midwife or Health Visitor. Please check the websites for further details:
UCLH — www.uclh.nhs.uk
Royal Free Hospital — www.royalfree.nhs.uk
Sources of information and care
- For general online information and to check symptoms refer to NHS online: www.nhs.uk or use 111 online: www.111.nhs.uk
- If needed call your GP to discuss your concerns and seek help.
- If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 10 days, then use the NHS 111 online service. If you have do not have internet access, you should call NHS 111.
- COVID 19: If your concerns relate to coronavirus you can also check the NHS symptom checker on www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19
Where to find trusted information about coronavirus
As with any new illness, there is a lot of inaccurate information in the public space. Please use trusted sources for your information:
- The NHS website gives information on the virus and how to prevent it spreading
- Travel advice has been provided by the Government and will be updated regularly
Confused by ‘fake news’ about coronavirus? To help challenge some of the common misunderstandings around coronavirus (COVID-19), public health experts in Camden have put together this useful Q&A: Myth-busters: Coronavirus (COVID-19) — True or False?
COVID-19 — Guidance in Multi-languages:
