Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) and Response Hub commissioned to support children this winter

Health leaders in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) are pleased to confirm the recent opening of a new Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) and Response hub to support children and young people in need of urgent respiratory care this winter.

Annually the NHS sees a significant increase in the number of children and young people going to the Emergency Department, urgent treatment centres and GP practices with coughs and colds caused by viruses during the colder winter months. These symptoms will usually get better in time and can be effectively managed with self-care or the advice of a community pharmacist, with only a small minority of severe cases requiring the children’s Emergency Department. Community pharmacies are also able to prescribe antibiotics where required for a number of common winter illnesses through the Pharmacy First Scheme (https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/pharmacy/). Children and young people with more severe or worrying symptoms may require assessment by a doctor, nurse or another clinician. The 111 service can offer advice on which symptoms require a medical assessment.

The ARI hub enables children to access medical care for respiratory illnesses that may cause fever, laboured breathing, lethargy and poor feeding or fluid intake.

To help the Children’s Emergency Department focus their resources on life and limb threatening emergencies, children that require respiratory or other related support can now be referred to the hub by either their GP practice or by triage staff at the Children’s Emergency Department. The hub, which is based in Leicester, will offer appointments to patients between 2pm and 9pm Monday to Friday.

The hub is the latest measure from the NHS in Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland to ensure patients receive the right care, from the right professional, in the right part of the NHS, first time – known as right care, right place. This helps to ensure NHS resources are used in the best way to help everyone in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland get the care they need in a timeframe appropriate to their clinical needs.

Dr Louise Ryan, Clinical Lead for Children and Young People for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, said: “The hub will provide additional access to medical care for children and young people with non-life threatening respiratory illnesses such as coughs, colds and wheezing caused by winter viruses. By allowing the children’s Emergency Department to refer children directly into the hub this will help ensure that children and young people with severe and life-threatening illness can be seen more quickly in the children’s emergency department.”

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust have recently published a self-care guide for parents of 0–9-year-olds, which includes helpful advice on what to do if your child has respiratory symptoms, a high temperature or other common childhood illnesses. You can view the guide here: Supporting a poorly child – University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Parents and carers are advised to use this advice in the first instance when their child becomes unwell. If further advice is required, they should call 111 or consult their local pharmacist. Unless there is a concern about a life-threatening illness, children should only be taken to the Children’s Emergency Department if advised to do so by 111, a pharmacist, GP, nurse or other medical professional.

Local pharmacies can provide expert advice and over-the-counter medicines for many minor illnesses including cough, colds, sore throats and earache. They can check symptoms, recommend the best treatment or provide reassurance. They can also now provide prescription medication without needing an appointment at a GP practice first for seven common conditions under what is known as the Pharmacy First scheme which includes ear infections (for children aged 1-17 years), sinusitis (for children aged 12 years and over) and sore throats (for children five years and over). You can find pharmacies in your area here: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy/.

If parents are worried that their child has symptoms that require medical attention such as not being themselves, feeding/eating less than half of usual amounts, or has a persistent high temperature, they should contact their GP practice or NHS 111, who can provide advice and assessment or book an appointment at the new ARI hub if this is appropriate. They should only go directly to the Children’s Emergency Department if their child goes blue on their tongue or lips, has long pauses in their breathing or is having severe breathing difficulties or gasping for long periods.