Hub opens for children to get respiratory care

URGENT HELP AVAILABLE WHEN REFERRED BY GP OR HOSPITAL

- By STAFF REPORTER

URGENT HELP AVAILABLE WHEN REFERRED BY GP OR HOSPITAL

(POSED BY MODEL/GETTY)

HEALTH leaders have opened a hub to support children in need of urgent respiratory care this winter.

A spokesman said 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 winter.

These symptoms usually get better in time, with only a small minority of severe cases requiring the children's emergency department.

Children can now be referred to the new Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) and Response hub by either their GP or by triage staff at the children's emergency department at Leicester Royal Infirmary.