Scaremongering threads about children - RCPCH have responded to worrying Twitter claims

[NaughtipussMaximus]

The RCPCH have responded to reassure parents and refute the claims on twitter and elsewhere about increased numbers of children with serious covid19 in ICUs. Please, if you’re worried about your children, read this and feel better. And if you’re one of the ones perpetuating unsubstantiated reports to further an agenda, please get in the sea.

www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-responds-media-reports-increased-admissions-children-young-people-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR0To78ci_Ra9CXHCAV3pM91MO31zfcpmMlcfxi9-ozdtwPu9n9xE54dPc4

The RCN posted this supportive tweet yesterday too. It's really worrying they they appeared to backup the claims. Does very little for their credibility.

I agree with PPs. The way some posters tried to hijack this whole thing to further their agenda was disgusting.

Shocking behaviour from The Telegraph. Even the Mail didn’t run the story.

Unfortunately I think the damage has done and people won’t read this follow up.

Just seen she tagged @nursesayno in that post. Im not on twitter so not sure who they are but looks iffy.

@Satsumatrifle

Exactly Barbie. There seems to be a kind of mass consolation going on that requires dismantling her remarks-but nothing will change this reality.

But as the RCPCH has also stated, they’re nowhere near that stage. So please stop with your panic tactics.

Also Russell Viner (while a very senior paediatrician) has not been erm right about some aspects of managing the covid crisis so far.

For example, in August he downplayed the likelihood of transmission on schools. (we did need more research, but it was hard to see children would not be transmitting the disease, as we now know that they do).

And in September, he was arguing against testing children (which appalled me).

He could have used his position to ask that the Government followed WHO guidance on re-opening schools, but he seems to have done the opposite of that.

So I think there is a political agenda going on with this particular doctor.

And I would weigh up the other evidence very carefully.

@MrsTerryPratchett

I wish the press would remember their bloody job.

Exactly.

In the words quoted by another poster on here, Keep on looking out of the bloody window.

I feel like sorry for everyone in this mess,on a turn of phrase, a slight changing of a word or the goal post's and entire meaning is lost.

How many swings did we get and misleading language before it was roughly proved that masks do help to stop transmission. But misleading scientists said it doesn't stop covid but they didn't qualify, it doesn't stop the wearer getting it but reduces the chance of others getting it.

It's a minefield, it really is but unfortunately when when people like Owen Jones get involved, one thinks it's suddenly not about any care for school or teachers or children but it's all a fight to destabilise the government and bring them down.

No matter what I think about them right now, I certainly don't want to add more instability to our precarious situation.

Thank god a thread that is actually talking some sense . I got sucked into the scaremongering yesterday and it really fuelled my anxiety - and I say this as a paediatric nurse with three children under 6 . I couldn't help but get sucked into it despite my own experience .
Also without being blunt Children’s wards are very often full - children do get sent to further away hospitals , childrens icu's are also often full to capacity. It's crap and horrible to think about but it happens all the time . The children will always get treated , sometimes they will have to get sent to an ICU further away than the most local . This does happen - not just in covid times . Thank goodness the news isn't full of this 24/7 as we would all go insane !

Here like any one anywhere, each person's perceptions will be totally different even in the same place.

That's why we need the facts and figures.

Yes but ALLs
. This is exactly what concerns me, I've been on a packed ward pre covid and seen first hand the lack of equipment and so on, so any further pressure on childrens resources would deeply be concern me.

@Panickingpavlova I can't comment . However what we do still know is that it is STILL rare for children to need hospitalisation due to covid 19.

Okay, so re masks in schools here is Prof Viner in August on the side of the argument against mask wearing. He is suggesting that children who wear masks could spread the virus more.

Ir would be interesting to know if he still thinks that?

Can someone help me not panic about the below? Does GOSH normally do this?

Patients who could not be treated at hospitals in the region were being sent to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and children's hospital Great Ormond Street had been "told to release 12 nurses" to the Royal Free and UCLH to allow patients to be transferred there.

I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall with some. There are no capacity problems in paeds - we are nowhere near this stage.

@RigaBalsam GOSH are sending nurses to help other hospitals - some are going to adult ICUs.

Paediatric nurses are being released and volunteering to help on adult wards because there are so many adult covid patients - not paediatric!

It’s the adult services who are really struggling- 12 patients to 1 nurse.

[quote Pomegranatespompom]@RigaBalsam GOSH are sending nurses to help other hospitals - some are going to adult ICUs.[/quote]
Thank you

All hallows but in the twitter link a pead in hospital said she is seeing children in ward with covid BUT at figs she expects to see with the numbers increase..

Here like anyone anywhere, each person's perceptions will be totally different even in the same place. That's why we need the facts and figures

I agree, but would add that we also need to know we can trust whoever's giving the facts and figures - and with so much angst flying round that's not easy

Which is why it can be useful to check whatever-it-is with several sources, look at where their funding (if any) is coming from and most of all consider if an agenda's involved

Thanks very much for posting this OP. Certainly reassuring - it’s hard not to get caught up in a spiral of panic and I agree very irresponsible reporting by the Telegraph

Here, this is the problem isn't it...

I remember when I had baby, every single mw/nurse who walked in after the birth... Did something opposite to the other. 1st comes in and states baby should go in the cot so mum can rest. The next one took baby out and placed her next to me because, baby needs skin to skin.

When df was dying had exactly the same range of totally different opinions. One nurse was arguing with him when he was begging for a certain drug, telling him he'd had his daily allocation! He was terminally ill expected to go any minute! Another nurse was furious and over rode her and basically said.. Give him the bloody tablet! Do one less later etc..

I guess all we can do is make sure we access a broad range of research material and remember that sadly some of people do get it wrong or lie or have agendas or have perfectly sound info but just for their immediate situation.

@Panickingpavlova people who actually work in paeds will be able to relay fairly accurate information. Hospitals are working together.

People are volunteering to go to adults icus, this demonstrates the type of good people working in the nhs. I admit I know 2, no agenda other than that ...

@Panickingpavlova I think you've hit the nail on the head.