As children head back to school after the summer holidays, it’s common to see more coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and tummy bugs spreading through families.
When children spend more time together in classrooms, germs naturally circulate more easily and this can often lead to a seasonal rise in minor illnesses.
While it can be worrying when your child feels unwell, many common conditions can be treated quickly and effectively without needing a GP appointment.
In many cases, your local community pharmacy should be the first place you turn for advice.
Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who can assess symptoms, recommend treatments and advise if further medical care is needed.
The NHS Pharmacy First service has made it even easier to get help.
Under this service, pharmacists can assess and treat several common conditions, including sore throats, earaches and sinus infections.
Where appropriate, they can provide prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics, without the need for patients to see a GP first.
This can be particularly helpful for parents juggling work, school runs and busy family schedules.
Instead of waiting for an appointment, you can often get expert advice and treatment from your local pharmacy much more quickly.
Children commonly experience sore throats and ear infections during the first few weeks of the new school term.
While many of these illnesses improve on their own, some may benefit from treatment.
Pharmacy teams can help determine the best course of action and advise on symptoms that might require further assessment.
Tummy bugs are another frequent seasonal issue.
If your child has diarrhoea or vomiting, keeping them hydrated is very important, so best give them small, frequent sips of fluid rather than large gulps.
To reduce the risk of passing infection to others, children should stay off school or nursery until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.
As we move further into autumn, it’s also worth looking out for information about this year’s flu vaccination programme.
Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to protect against serious illness and help reduce the spread of flu through schools and households.
This September, please remember that NHS services here in Redbridge are available in different ways.
For many everyday illnesses, your local pharmacy can provide fast, convenient expert care – helping your child recover sooner and ensuring GP appointments remain available for people with more complex health needs.
- Dr Anil Mehta is a local GP and clinical director for Redbridge at NHS North East London.
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