Children's Health
If you are concerned about your young child's health, and the matter is not urgent, then you can ask for advice from your Health Visitor.
If you need urgent advice, call your doctor's surgery and make an appointment.
NHS Direct give advice to worried parents about children's health - 0845 4647. The website has easy to access information about common problems with self-help options and a health encylopaedia. It also has a link to local NHS Helplines, so you can find the contact numbers for local doctors, dentists, etc., if you are new to the area. The helpline number can also find you medical help "out of hours" (i.e. evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays).
To find an NHS dentist in Southampton for emergency or routine care, telephone 023 8033 8336 between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm.
NHS Walk-In Centres offer fast convenient access to a range of NHS services including health information, advice and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. Open from early morning to late evening seven days a week, you don't need an appointment. Southampton has two: Central and Bitterne.
Southampton (Central) Walk-in Centre, Fanshawe Wing, Royal South Hants Hospital, Brintons Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YG. Telephone 023 8071 6539. The centre is open 8.00 am - 9.30 pm all week.
Bitterne Walk-In Centre, Bitterne Health Centre, Commercial Street, SO18 6BT. Telephone: 023 8042 6356. The centre is open 8.00 am - 9.30 pm all week.
Immunisations -Your child's doctor's surgery or Health Visitor should ensure that he or she receives immunisations against the common childhood illnesses. The Department of Health website offers full information on current vaccination practice, and you can check on the schedule for your particular child. It even has advice on the jabs you need when travelling abroad.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Information/index.htm
Meningitis and septicaemia are life-threatening diseases. Knowing the signs and symptoms so that medical help can be sought quickly, can save lives. Only some forms of these diseases have an effective vaccine, so everyone is still at risk of meningitis. This website gives full information about the symptoms, and other information. The meningitis Research Foundation also offers support to families whose children have suffered meningitis, and provide a 24 hour helpline: 080 8800 3344.
Head lice and their eggs (nits) can affect anyone (even people with shiny clean hair), but children are particularly likely to catch them, because they play and work closely together in schools and nurseries. Several different companies offer remedies, and their links are listed. Please check with your local pharmacy to ensure you use the currently recommended method of removal. For those who don't like using strong chemicals on their children, especially those with allergies and asthma, the bug busting method of combing using your normal conditioner, may be preferred.
