Families urged not to delay getting help for sick children

While anyone with coronavirus symptoms is advised to stay at home and not come to a hospital, RUH Medical Director Dr Bernie Marden says most services are running as usual and that people with no coronavirus symptoms should still seek help if they need it.

He is especially keen for people with to know the hospital is still there for them and has created a special children’s ward away with its own entrance.

Dr Marden said: “People are still having accidents, strokes, heart attacks and so on. We have organised the hospital in a way that makes us confident we can still provide the same level of care for all our patients.

“We are still very much a functioning, active general hospital providing all the services that people expect us to provide at any hour of the day or night. Nobody should be worried about coming here if they need to.”

The public is advised to follow the same processes – using the emergency number 999, the non-emergency number 111 and pharmacists in the usual way.

The hospital is particularly keen to reassure parents that they should not hesitate to seek help if their child is ill. They should follow guidelines and call NHS 111 if their child has any symptom that they are worried about, whether they think this relates to coronavirus or not.

Dr Marden said: “I know how worried parents can be when their child becomes unwell. It’s therefore really important that they understand that we are here for them and that they seek help as soon as they are concerned.”

The Children’s Ward has created a dedicated COVID-19 area with its own entrance and special staffing system, meaning patients can receive the care they need and that staff and patients in other part of the ward are protected.

Paediatricians have drawn up guidelines with information about what steps to take if your child becomes unwell or has an accident. These include when to go to A&E or call 999,