NEW step-by-step advice to help parents in Furness decide when to seek medical help for common childhood illnesses has been launched.

The guidance - written by doctors in south Cumbria - is also designed to make sure parents know how best to treat conditions such as a hot temperature or vomiting bugs

It is hoped the online reference point will reduce the number of times youngsters are taken to busy hospital A&E departments out of hours - while making it clear when children do need medical attention.

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Barrow GP Dr Amanda Boardman claimed the new system would help improve the experience children, young people and families have when using local health services across the area.

Dr Boardman, who is also the GP lead for children and safeguarding on Cumbria's Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "These pathways are excellent guides allowing both parents and professionals to use the same guidance.

"They are a vital reference tool when your child is ill, as people are often unsure when to seek help and when a condition will just settle itself on its own.

"Professionals and families can also use them as learning tools, so they can share their experiences and discuss how to manage certain conditions and avoid them occurring in the first place."

The new "pathways" provide answers to frequently asked questions on a number of common childhood ailments such as high temperatures, diarrhoea and vomiting, constipation, coughs, colds and breathing difficulties.

They can often be managed at home but on some occasions can be more serious and require medical help.

The guidance clarifies when to seek extra help from a pharmacist and when to visit a GP or call the Cumbria Health on Call out of hours service.

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Clare Peckham, a consultant paediatrician within the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, added: "On the rare occasions that children need to go to hospital, the pathways will help guide and signpost carers appropriately.

"Hopefully, implementation of the pathways will contribute to lower numbers of unnecessary referrals to hospital."

The videos can be accessed at www.cumbriaccg.nhs.uk/childadvice