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Rapid Access Clinic

Checked: 23-07-2023 by Rob Adams Next Review: 23-07-2025

Summary and referral criteria

Update 24/08/23 - Waiting times for rapid access appointments are up to 4 weeks

The rapid access clinic is run from the Clinical Investigations Unit (CIU) at the Children’s Hospital. It enables GPs to access a consultant medical opinion for children where the referral is medically urgent but the GP feels that acute admission is probably not needed. Referrals are read the same day by a Consultant Paediatrician and triaged according to clinical urgency and are seen within 2 weeks.

If there appears to be no pressing clinical need the patient may be rerouted to a routine local paediatric outpatient clinic or returned to the referring GP at the discretion of the triage paediatrician

The service is not restricted to specific categories or conditions although does not deal with surgical or orthopaedic problems.

The aim is to prevent inappropriate referrals to Emergency Department where neither admission nor urgent care are required, but where routine clinic appointment is not timely enough. Examples: significant faltering growth in an infant, unexplained symptoms of real concern to GP in child not acutely unwell.

Almost all parents are anxious about their child's symptoms and want them seen as soon as possible - family anxiety alone, without clinical concern on part of GP, is not a good reason for referral, otherwise the service becomes overwhelmed. If in doubt, speak to the medical consultant on acute service for advice via UHBW switchboard’s GP line 0117 9349335.

Referrals

This service is available directly via eRS as a Referral Assessment Service. Referrals must include current phone number of parents or guardian.

For telephone enquiries ring 0117 342 7049.

Please also consider the paediatric USC (2WW) guidelines if cancer is suspected.

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