Healthier Together 3.3.35

Dealing with a child's illness can be a profoundly stressful experience for parents. While an abundance of information is readily available, pinpointing resources that offer clear and reliable guidance can prove challenging.

The Healthier Together initiative stands out as a valuable resource, developed collaboratively by parents and NHS healthcare professionals. It provides straightforward information on common childhood illnesses, outlining crucial 'red-flag' symptoms to monitor, guidance on seeking help, strategies for keeping your child comfortable, and typical durations for various symptoms.

Notably, these resources are utilized by both parents and healthcare providers, fostering a level of consistency in care that is essential for effective treatment. This alignment ensures that children receive high-quality care regardless of which healthcare professional they consult. Additionally, the standardized advice found in Healthier Together serves to alleviate parental anxiety stemming from inconsistent information.

The NHS Healthier Together app further enhances accessibility to healthcare services for children. In instances where a child requires medical attention, the app allows parents to communicate their child's symptoms directly to their GP without the need for an initial phone call. Following this, the GP practice will reach out to determine necessary next steps. For situations where assistance is needed outside of regular GP hours, the app provides guidance to NHS 111. Many parents have already adopted this app and reported finding it to be an invaluable tool in managing their child’s health needs.