Parents, it can be a very stressful time for you and the whole family when your child is ill. But remember, help and support is never far away. Your GP, health visitor, practice nurse and pharmacist are just some of the clinicians who can give you advice on how to treat your child's illness.
You can try your local pharmacy first. They'll tell you if your child needs to see a GP. However, if your child has signs of serious illness, contact your GP directly or take them straight to the A&E department of your local hospital.
If you find it difficult to contact your doctor or to get to the surgery, you can call NHS 111 for medical advice, 24 hours a day or visit the 111.nhs.uk website (for people aged 5 and over only).
On this page
Care Confident
Care Confident is an educational and communication resource aimed at supporting families with under-five-year-olds in better understanding the signs and symptoms of the most common childhood illnesses, helping them to know what to do, and when to worry. It also aims to help parents and carers keep their children healthy.
The guide helps families to deal with the six most common illnesses every child can get from time to time. By knowing how to care for your child at home and how to access the NHS advice services, you could avoid waiting a long time in A&E when you do not need to.
