PARENTS whose children have fallen ill are deeply confused by the healthcare system, a leading paediatrician from Southampton has warned.

Dr Sanjay Patel, a consultant in infectious diseases based at Southampton Children's Hospital whose work in this area has been used across the UK, said fragmented information about illnesses and services resulted in GPs and A&Es becoming the default options for parents.

Many of these parents are simply seeking reassurance their child is not severely unwell and there is no need for them to be seen - putting pressure on an already strained NHS.

The doctor made the claims ahead of the today's launch of Wessex Healthier Together, a website for health services across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight which helps parents recognise serious illness in their children and provide information on when they should seek help.

Dr Patel said: “When parents and carers of young children are worried about a child’s health, they often find the healthcare system deeply confusing and difficult to navigate.

"They are unsure as to whether they should call their GP, speak to their pharmacist, go to a walk-in-centre or minor injury unit, ring NHS 111, dial 999, turn up at A&E or simply watch their child at home."

Around 80 per cent of children in the south who are admitted to hospital as emergencies return home the same day or after one night's stay.

And 77 per cent of local GPs feel that more than half of the children they see with common childhood illnesses could have been safely looked after at home.

But despite this, since 2010 the number of A&E attendances in under-18s across Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Dorset has gone up by 12 per cent.

Dr Patel said: “Parents tell us they find it hard to know whether their child has a serious illness or not and are often just seeking reassurance – but find themselves completely confused about where to turn for clear and simple advice.

"This leaves them having to turn directly to their GP or A&E department when there may be alternatives that are better for their child and under-pressure healthcare services."

Wessex Healthier Together has developed a website which contains information on symptoms and details of nearby services as well leaflets which outline the stages of illness for a range of conditions and what action parents should take before seeking further help.

There is also clinical guides for medical staff, such as what assessments should be carried out and when it is appropriate to refer patients to other services.

Dr Patel said: “As healthcare professionals, we need to remove the barriers between general practice and hospital services and work together to ensure parents and families have easy access to the right information at the right time.

“Through the development of this useful online tool, we can advise parents as one group on what symptoms to look for, what action they should be taking and which organisations they should be looking to head to next.”