Sick children put NHS under pressure in Hampshire
Parents are being urged to help protect A&E services by downloading an NHS app
Last updated 23rd Jan 2025
Health bosses have said rising cases of child illnesses are putting extra pressure on hospital emergency departments in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
New figures released by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight show that an extra 980 children are attending A&E with coughs this winter, compared with 2023.
There's also been an increase of more than 800 children in emergency departments with a sore throat between October and December 2024 compared with the same period 12 months beforehand.
The increases have led to extra pressure on wards which have already seen a huge influx in young and adult patients suffering from winter illnesses like flu, Covid-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Parents and carers are being urged to download the Healthier Together app which uses a traffic light system to determine what service your child needs.
It can help decide whether patients can self-care at home or if theyneed help, which service is best for the needs of children aged up to 18.
This includes directing parents to the 111 service or local pharmacies, which can now see and treat children (and adults) with minor illnesses such as sore throats and earaches.
In December, the Healthier Together app was used by parents and carers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight more than 11,000 times.
Sanjay Patel, consultant in paediatric infectious diseases working at Southampton Children’s Hospital said:
"If you’re worried that your child is unwell, the Healthier Together app is a great place to start as it provides information and advice regarding your child’s health at your fingertips.
"You'll find clear information on common illnesses, including advice on what serious signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, how long their symptoms are likely to last and what you should do to keep your child comfortable.
"The app has been designed in partnership with parents to allow you to access care for your child much more easily and over 50,000 parents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have already downloaded the app and have found it extremely useful."