It's NEVER a nuisance to raise health concerns around babies

Latest research for The Lullaby Trust for Infection Prevention Week has revealed new parents are still reluctant to bother doctors for fear of wasting NHS time

- BY MATT NIXSON

TOO many first-time parents hold off contacting doctors, according to a poll. Almost a third (30 per cent) of UK parents and carers surveyed admitted that they had delayed seeking medical help because they were worried about “wasting” NHS time.

A third (32 per cent) held back due to uncertainty around whether their baby really needed medical help or not. And while 83 per cent said they felt confident recognising infection symptoms and signs, just three per cent were able to correctly identify them all.

The nationwide poll was commissioned by the charity The Lullaby Trust, which supports families who have lost babies and works to prevent sudden infant deaths, to mark Infection Prevention Week.

Shockingly, nearly one in five parents said that they were likely to use ChatGPT or another AI tool for advice if they were worried.