Why do non-urgent patients present to the paediatric emergency department?

Abstract

Non-urgent presentation to the paediatric emergency department (PED) is an underexplored area within the context of the National Health Service (NHS). Therefore, a pilot study was undertaken in the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh to evaluate the awareness of the unscheduled care policy within NHS Lothian and the reasons why parents/carers bring their child to the PED for non-urgent complaints. It was found that there was a general lack of awareness of the unscheduled care policy, and that non-urgent presentation was often due to inappropriate referral.