Senior MPs push for a public awareness campaign, advising parents on managing kids’ illnesses without unnecessary school absences or GP visits, aiming to alleviate the ‘crisis’ of absenteeism post-pandemic
The joint letter from Robin Walker and Steve Brine to Victoria Atkins (Health Secretary) and Gillian Keegan (Education Secretary) says a campaign could help tackle the ‘crisis’ of school absenteeism, which remains at a higher level than pre-pandemic, and the extra pressure this puts on for primary care.
During its recent inquiry into persistent absence, the Education Committee heard that whilst there is a range of complex factors causing children to miss school, physical illness is the most common reason for absence. It also heard evidence that, since the pandemic, parents have become more reluctant to send their children to school when their child has a mild illness.
The MPs are also concerned about the pressure this puts on GP practices, particularly in times of winter demand on the NHS. Instead, parents should be informed of when it is appropriate to seek care from a GP, and when a child with a mild illness could be treated through self-care at home.
Mr Brine and Mr Walker state in their joint letter to the Secretaries of State that both issues could be addressed by a national public awareness campaign that offers parents advice on what to do if their child is showing symptoms of a mild illness. They also argue that it would be more cost effective for both departments to share the cost of this initiative and pool their expertise to deliver an effective and informative campaign.
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