Parents and carers who are worried about their child’s health can now access a wealth of information via an app, developed by experts at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
The app and accompanying webpage not only give advice about how to access care for different situations, but also what to expect when visiting the Royal Hospital for Children and information on common childhood issues such as earache, fevers and temperatures and coughs and cold.
Information for different age groups of children is helpfully divided up and there are separate sections on COVID concerns as well as how to deal with injuries.
RHC Paediatric Consultant Dr Morag Wilson, said: “We understand that it can be very stressful when your child is unwell. Many of us are parents ourselves. We know that there is a huge amount of information out there, but finding something that provides clear and accurate information is not always easy.
“All of the information on the app has been checked and verified by us as trusted sources – something that’s very important when dealing with something as important as your child’s health. It’s been developed with our multi-disciplinary team to help ensure you can find everything you need to know about your child coming to hospital, as well as providing up-to-date quality information on common health conditions and what to do in an emergency.
“Our parent and young people advice has been developed in partnership between our hospital medical staff and primary care colleagues and adapted with permission from the Healthier Together initiative. You’ll find information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on ‘red-flag’ warning signs to look out for, when and where to seek help and how to keep your child comfortable. Our information is regularly reviewed by our team to make sure we are giving you accurate and up-to-date advice.”
The app has been warmly welcomed by parents and carers around Scotland.
Dona Grimwood, from Cambuslang is one of them. Dona spent time in the Royal Hospital in 2017 with her son Cameron, when he suffered a complex fracture in two places in his leg and needed surgery and on-going rehab. Cameron was just seven at the time.
Dona said: “When Cameron had his accident, it was clear it was very serious and he needed emergency care, so we took him straight to ED at the Royal Hospital for Children.
“But there are so many other times with children that things are not so clear cut. They can be fine one minute and really ill the next. It’s also quite confusing as a parent as there’s so much information out there, so knowing who and what to trust is difficult.
“My other son Robbie plays rugby and gets a lot of knocks, so I’m sure the app will come in handy for that too.
“I have downloaded the app and urge other parents to do the same. Knowing it’s all been checked and verified by specialists in their field means I can trust it’s the best guidance for me to follow when I need it most.
“The staff in the RHC are amazing and do amazing things every day. This helpful app is a great idea and will make it easier for parents to make the right choices when it matters most.”
To download the app, please visit the App Store or Google play, search for RHCG patients and carers and look for the icon, or access via your web browser https://rhc.nhsggc.org.uk