As a GP of 25 years, the last 4 spent in a job where 24/7
responsibility still exists, I agree that child health services need to be
integrated and improved, and I was disturbed to read that many GP's now
have very little paediatric experience. I would like to comment on the
statement that many children with minor illnesses are admitted to
hospital.
Only one of whose authors of this article seems to be a GP, and there
is only a passing reference to Out of Hours provision. In most General
Practices in the UK, GPs' responsibilities are from 8.00am to 6.00pm, 5
days a week. This means that for the majority of the time the
responsibility for the treatment of children, especially "emergencies",
rests with the Out of Hours providers. Not all of the doctors working for
these organisations are experienced GP's with paediatric training who know
the patients and their situation personally. Often parents are driven to
the local A&E by the frustrations of trying to contact an emergency doctor
- and in A&E they are more likely to be treated by inexperienced doctors
who choose to admit them for safety's sake.
This situation needs to be addressed somehow- more paediatric
training, GP's in A&E departments, better conditions for the Out of Hours
workers which will tempt back experienced doctors..........but its place
in the treatment of children cannot be ignored.
Rapid Response:
Improving Child Health Services
As a GP of 25 years, the last 4 spent in a job where 24/7
responsibility still exists, I agree that child health services need to be
integrated and improved, and I was disturbed to read that many GP's now
have very little paediatric experience. I would like to comment on the
statement that many children with minor illnesses are admitted to
hospital.
Only one of whose authors of this article seems to be a GP, and there
is only a passing reference to Out of Hours provision. In most General
Practices in the UK, GPs' responsibilities are from 8.00am to 6.00pm, 5
days a week. This means that for the majority of the time the
responsibility for the treatment of children, especially "emergencies",
rests with the Out of Hours providers. Not all of the doctors working for
these organisations are experienced GP's with paediatric training who know
the patients and their situation personally. Often parents are driven to
the local A&E by the frustrations of trying to contact an emergency doctor
- and in A&E they are more likely to be treated by inexperienced doctors
who choose to admit them for safety's sake.
This situation needs to be addressed somehow- more paediatric
training, GP's in A&E departments, better conditions for the Out of Hours
workers which will tempt back experienced doctors..........but its place
in the treatment of children cannot be ignored.
Competing interests: No competing interests