Thread by @AlisonGeorge10

Well now, this is v worrying…

Part of the triage process for unwell kids presenting to secondary care includes a ‘#COVID section’.

That’s good obvs, but wait till you hear what the questions are.

#CovidIsNotOver
@IndependentSage @RCPCHtweets @UKHSA @NHSEngland @DHSCgovuk
1/9

1 - has the child or a family member recently travelled abroad?

2 - has the child or a family member recently tested positive for #COVID?

3 - has anyone in the child’s home been asked to isolate for #COVID19 recently?

& it gets worse…much worse.
2/

So if a child/parent/caregiver answers NO to all 3 Qs they’re categorised as ‘#COVID✖️’, which is then handwritten on the front of the paper notes & entered into the computer (presumably for data collection).

NB This information INFORMS other HCWs seeing the child re risk etc
3/

It doesn’t matter whether a child presents with a high temperature, cough & intermittent SOB.

If the answers to the these 3 questions are all NO, they are considered as

#COVID ✖️

NOT EVEN if the child is clinically vulnerable in some way themself.

4/

When I politely challenged this dangerous, unscientific nonsense the response I received from a senior staff member was “well what difference does it make whether he/she has #COVID anyway?”.

To be honest, at this point I had to pinch myself & bite my tongue!
5/

There is apparently - NO CONCERN that the child gets an accurate diagnosis & therefore appropriate treatment/management.

- NO CONCERN for the child’s relatives or other young patients who may be CV/CEV.

- NO CONCERN for the multiple HCWs the child comes into contact w/
6/

And - ZERO THOUGHT for how increased demands on an increasingly stretched #NHS workforce may worsen the situation for the 1000s of other patients needing care or the individuals desperately trying to do their best in a deliberately broken service….
7/

….during an ongoing pandemic of a novel virus.

NONE 😡!

Paediatric medicine in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 in 2023 has reached a shocking new low.

@RCPCHPresident @CMO_England @CNOEngland @ChildrensComm @H_S_E
8/

#WilfulNegligence

@SGriffin_Lab @Kit_Yates_Maths @dgurdasani1 @trishgreenhalgh @chrischirp @Dr2NisreenAlwan @danielgoyal @NjbBari3 @YouAreLobbyLud @MeetJess @drclairetaylor @doctorshaib @PeterDilworth1 @martinmckee @BinitaKane @microlabdoc @karamballes @EvonneTCurran

9/9