Why do parents bring children with minor illness to emergency and urgent care departments? (2017)

Summary

High numbers of non-urgent attendances at paediatric emergency departments (i.e. attendances for illness that could have safely been treated elsewhere) increases waiting times, inconveniences families, incurs significant costs to the NHS, and reduces the time hospital staff can spend treating severely ill children.

This report, produced by the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) in collaboration with the Connecting Care for Children (CC4C) programme, addresses this issue.

Content

Literature review and report of fieldwork in North West London.

About the author

The Behavioural Insights Team generates and applies behavioural insights to inform policy, improve public services and deliver positive results for people and communities.