Back to school, back to bugs! | News and events

Children across the county return to school this week and the local NHS are giving parents and carers their top five tips for helping keep kids healthy at school.

Whether returning to school, or starting school, the new school year brings lots of children together again after the summer break, and with it lots of bugs and germs. NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough have five top tips for parents or carers to keep your children and family healthy:

1. Keep up to date with childhood vaccinations - Make sure your child is up to date on any childhood vaccinations. If you’re not sure if they’ve had all their vaccines, you can check on the NHS app and contact your GP practice to book any missed vaccinations. Be sure to sign the consent form for your child to have their flu vaccine when you’re sent it by your child’s school.
2. Check prescription medicines - Check any prescription medications (e.g. such as asthma inhalers) that they have at school are up to date, and more can be ordered through the NHS app.
3. Help stop the spread - Keep children off school if they have a contagious illness such as vomiting and diarrhoea and chickenpox.
4. Remember hand hygiene - Continue to encourage children to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating.
5. Stock up your medicine cabinet – Stock up your medicines cabinet so you can treat common conditions such as colds, coughs and tummy bugs at home, saving you time and helping your children feel better quicker. Your local pharmacy can help advise the best things to keep at home in case you need them.

Kath Rowe, Deputy Medical Director, at NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, said, “As children head back to school, or even start school for the first time, it’s a good point in time to make sure you have everything sorted for your child’s health and wellbeing. Our top tips give you five simple steps to take to help make sure everyone is ready to go to school as well as they can be.

“It’s essential your child has all their childhood vaccinations to protect against childhood illnesses such as measles and whooping cough. These vaccinations not only protect your child but also help protect those are who are too young or too unwell to have vaccines. If you’re not sure or can’t remember if your child is up to date on their vaccines, contact your GP practice as they can check your child’s medical record for you.”

Your local pharmacy can help you and your family with some common conditions without the need of a GP. They also sell medications and can help with prescriptions, as well as offering the Pharmacy First scheme which can help with seven common conditions. More information is available https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

For more information about children’s health and school visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/