Display Patient Information Leaflets

Date issued: May 2025 

For review: May 2027

Ref: C-616/DS/ED/If you decide not to wait child 

PDF: If you decide not to wait (child).pdf [pdf] 196KB

If you decide not to wait for your child to be seen in the Children’s Emergency Department

This leaflet describes what to do if you decide not to wait for your child to be seen and what other options there might be to get the help you need.

Wait times can be very long currently as the entire healthcare system is under huge pressure.  Sometimes people understandably decide not to continue waiting to be seen in the Emergency Department (ED).  We would always encourage you to stay, at least until your child has been seen and triaged by one of our experienced nurses.  If you decide not to wait, we would be very grateful if you could let one of the nurses know so that we don’t spend time looking for your child.

If you decide not to wait there are several alternative options if you still think advice or assessment for your child is required:

1. It may be that your GP is a better person to take care of your child.  They are aware of your child’s prior history and will be able to offer continuity of care. All local GPs are still seeing patients face to face when this is needed and will see patients urgently when they think it is required.  If the GP thinks your child has a problem that is best seen by a specialist paediatric doctor, they can often refer you directly to Level 12 rather than needing to come to the ED first.

2. If your child has a minor illness/injury and is over the age of 2 years, please consider going to the local Urgent Treatment Centre (The Cumberland).  There are also Minor Injury units at Kingsbridge, Tavistock and Launceston.

3. Pharmacists are also able to offer advice on minor injuries and illness.

4. If you are completely unsure you can contact NHS 111 (either online or by phone) for advice on where to go.

If you leave the ED with your child, please also be aware of the following:

1. If your child gets worse or you change your mind you can bring them back at any stage.  The fact that you did not wait previously will not affect your child’s care in any way.

2. If you can at least wait until your child has seen a triage nurse that would be useful.  It gives us the opportunity to briefly assess how urgently your child needs to be seen or advise you if somewhere else may be more appropriate.

3. If the nurse assesses that your child appears unwell and should stay to see a doctor and you continue to insist on leaving this will become a safeguarding issue. 

4. If we are concerned about the welfare of your child, we will make an internal referral to the safeguarding team. Your GP/or public health nurse will be informed of his attendance and outcome. We may also contact children’s social care to seek advice from a social worker.

5. If our experienced nurses are concerned that by not waiting to be seen/have treatment in the department your child will be at risk of becoming significantly unwell we are able in exceptional circumstances to contact the police and ask them to perform a welfare check on your child/return them to the department.