Emergency Departments in the children’s hospitals are overrun, more now than ever. Staff are being mistreated by this system while children aren’t being seen by GPs if they have Covid symptoms. This is further backing up an already underfunded service. Not alone that, it’s meaning social distancing in the A&E is impossible. So, another layer of danger is added to the stress of parents with children who are unwell.

Call for Stephen Donnelly and the government to open countrywide, accessible, 24 hour, GP led triage sites to create a filter system for A&E. This means that very sick children don’t have 8/9/10 hour waits in A&E where they further suffer and all parents can be offered reassurance in the appropriate setting.

These sites could operate on a pop up trial basis while figures spike. We are a small, rich country. We require better for our families, our healthcare workers and our collective mental and physical health. 

We are all fatigued from working hard raising families, against the backdrop of a pandemic. Please sign and pass on so that enough signatures require the government to take notice and act.