Barnfield Hill Surgery

Advice for Parents

ADVICE FOR PARENTS

To find out how Corona Virus may affect your child or to understand symptoms in children click here

Nosy Crow have made a very helpful book for children explaining what Corona Virus is – with pictures from the illustrator of The Gruffalo. Click on the link below.

Corona Virus – A book for Children

Fun  Handwashing Song and Technique for Children 

Childhood Immunisations

We are continuing with our childhood immunisation programme as it is important that we ensure other diseases such as mumps and measles are controlled during this outbreak. Please can you ensure that you do attend as requested for an appointment. The surgery is a ‘clean’ space and we are doing everything we can to ensure we remain a space that is free from any infection. We are still seeing patients who may be infected but this is at another one of our buildings in our Covid Primary Care Hub. Please be assured that our nurses and GP’s can safely take care of you and your children’s needs.

Childhood Illnesses

Many childhood illnesses can be managed safely at home. It is important in the coming weeks that parents have tools at hand that can help guide them through common childhood illnesses.

Handi Paediatric App is a free App downloadable onto any smartphone. It is based on the NICE guidance for feverish children aged under 5, and is commissioned by NHS Devon for use by parents, community staff, and secondary care staff ( junior doctors). It has been developed by NHS Devon CCG in conjunctions with paediatric specialists at University Hospitals Plymouth (Derriford)

For parents and carers, the App provides guidance for parents on the most common illnesses that their child may experience. It provides a home care plan to help look after the child at home, and it offers guidance as to where, and how quickly, to seek medical advice when a child is reported to have symptoms which may indicate that further assessment is needed. You can download the app at google play / apple by searching HANDI app

PLEASE CONTACT THE SURGERY IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CHILD

What symptoms does it cover?

Handi Paediatric app provided advice and support to parents and carers of children with the following symptoms:

1. Diarrhoea and vomiting

2. High temperature (fever)

3. Chesty baby(bronchiolitis)

4. Chesty child (wheeze and asthma)

5. Tummy pain

Fever and/or cough:

If your child has a new persistent cough and/or a fever ( over 37.8), and is unwell, please stay at home (self-isolate), keep them and family members who live with them away from others for 14 days, and call 111 for advice.

OR

If your child has a new persistent cough and/or a fever (over 37.8) but is not particularly unwell, they and family members who live with them must stay at home (self-isolate), keep away from other people for 14 days, and you can download the Handi app to get advice about how to look after them and when to seek more help.

 

 

Looking after your child’s mental health during the pandemic

The current Covid 19 pandemic and lock down may be having a significant impact on your child’s mental health. It is healthy for children to ask questions about Covid 19, but these are not always easy to answer. Mentally Healthy Schools has produced a series of tool kits to help parents support children who may be experiencing increased anxiety, behavioural problems, or increased conflict at home. The disruption to a routine may be very stressful for children, and they may be bored, lonely or confused about not being able to see friends and relatives.

For key and essential workers NHS People have provided a resource to help the parents who are often faced with children who are extremely worried and anxious about the welfare of a parent(s) whilst they are working in their key or essential role. These children may also still be attending school when their peers are spending more time with their families at home. To access this information please visit  NHS People 

School Closures

The Department for Education has provided an advice line for concerned parents, you can access the service on 0800 046 8687 (8am – 6pm Monday – Friday) . You can also contact them by email on [email protected]

This simple infographic can help parents explain school closures

Date published: 19th March, 2020
Date last updated: 19th May, 2020