New Red Book will give health advice

For many years Sheffield parents have been provided with a personal child health booklet, which provides much useful information and has been a good communication tool between different clinicians as it includes some guidance on how to manage common conditions or symptoms that children may develop.

The new edition provides all new parents and carers in the city with information on how to deal with common childhood conditions such as tummy ache, a sore throat or a high temperature. It is hoped that by better supporting parents to know how to respond in the event of their child becoming unwell, unnecessary attendances at Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s A&E department will be reduced, helping to free up A&E to deal with emergencies.

Dr Catherine Rimmer, consultant in emergency medicine, from Sheffield Children’s Hospital said:“The red book is used and kept by all parents as it is where health professionals record details of the healthcare the child receives, so it is important that we include health information that is clear, concise and also consistent with other sources, such as NHS Choices.

“The addition of the common childhood conditions should be a useful resource to help aid parents in recognising symptoms and selecting the most appropriate treatment including when to take a child to see a GP and when to take them to A&E.

“We hope that by adding this information, the Red Book will become the first port of call for parents who are concerned their children may be ill.”

The same guidance is available to GPs across the city and within the emergency department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. As this is based on current and up to date clinical guidance, it will ensure that these illnesses are managed consistently across the city.