Concerns children’s safety at risk as protection referrals drop in Wales during coronavirus pandemic

Children are being put at unnecessary risk due to a reluctance to seek medical help or child protection referrals during the coronavirus pandemic.

Fears over attending hospitals or visiting GPs, in a bid to avoid catching the virus, could result in children not getting the medical help they need for potentially serious illnesses, the Welsh children’s commissioner has warned.

Meanwhile Marian Parry Hughes, chair of the All Wales Heads of Children’s Services Group, said that the majority of Wales’ 22 local authorities were reporting a reduction in child protection referrals.

Her own authority of Gwynedd, where she’s the head of the children and supporting families department, has seen a 50% drop in all referrals compared to the same time last year, which includes safeguarding.

“Since the start of this period of social distancing and self-isolating, children’s social care has had to adapt to a new and different way of working,” she said.

“We are very aware of the risk of some safeguarding matters not being brought to the attention of our services due to children having less contact with their schools and with the other agencies who usually work with families.

“Due to the overall reduction in the numbers of referrals being made at present, I would like to assure you that Local Authorities’ Children’s Services in Wales are operating a ‘business as usual’ approach to safeguarding issues.

“This means that we would respond in the same way as usual to any reports of concern or harm regarding a child or young person and will ensure that our response places their safety and welfare first.

“It is therefore imperative that anyone who has any concern knows that help and support is available and that they can contact the local authority with their concerns.”

Professor Sally Holland, the Welsh Children’s Commissioner, said it was important that parents did not allow the coronavirus to impact their decision making when it comes to seeking help.

She said:  “I would like to urge all parents to get medical help or advice for the same issues that would have prompted them to see their doctor or local hospital before the coronavirus epidemic.

“For other issues like extra support if they are struggling at home, families need to know their local authority’s social services are absolutely still running and are still there to give them the support they need.

“Additionally, if any member of the public is worried about the safety of a child in their community they should discuss these concerns with their local authority, the NSPCC or the police.”

A paediatric consultant at the Children’s Hospital for Wales said meningitis and sepsis could be among the potentially life-threatening conditions missed if parents keep their children away from hospitals.

“On the whole COVID is a much milder disease in children, and children will continue to get other illnesses,” said Dr Jennifer Evans.

“We know there are significantly fewer children coming to children’s departments – in our own department this is by a factor of up to 75% as compared to this time last year.

“We are anxious that other conditions that need urgent treatment including meningitis and sepsis are not being missed and want to reassure parents that children’s departments are open and are safe.

“We also want to reassure parents that one parent or carer will be able to stay with their child at all times if they come to the hospital.

“And finally we want to stress that babies are taken for their routine immunisations when they are called – we do not want to see further outbreaks of infections in the future if this can be avoided – and there is a risk of this happening if we do not keep our rates of immunisation high.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter