Scotland under 16 admitions to hospital

BIoodyStupidJohnson · 23/09/2021 08:04

I feel this part is quite key, certainly adds context:

The report, which comes as vaccinations are being offered routinely for the first time to all children aged 12 to 15, stresses that the figures "do not differentiate between individuals in hospital with Covid-19 illness requiring hospitalisation compared to those in hospital for other reasons (e.g. routine operations) for whom Covid-19 was identified incidentally through testing".

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 23/09/2021 08:08

As the figures don't distinguish between those admitted to hospital BECAUSE of Covid and those admitted for, say, a broken arm, who had mild covid picked up through routine testing in hospital, you can't read much into it. That might be 200 kids admitted with appendicitis or a bad arm break. Equally it might be 200 with a bad dose of covid requiring hospital support. We just don't know.

BIoodyStupidJohnson · 23/09/2021 08:13

Also Scotland has over 250 hospitals across the country so you're talking less than one per hospital (statistically speaking).

This isn't to minimise it, of course no one wants kids in hospital with covid. But I think it's important to contextualise these figures, which the OP and the article headline don't do.

BoomChicka · 23/09/2021 08:18

I'd like to see the breakdown of hospitalisation FOR covid, not just those in hospital who test positive on the routine swabs. It's irrelevant without that.

Intheswissmountains · 23/09/2021 08:22

It is meaningless without the breakdown of reasons to be in hospital. A friend of mine that works as a medic said lots of normal but usually an high number of respiratory illnesses are going around at the moment, not covid related.

DumplingsAndStew · 23/09/2021 09:31

@BoomChicka

I'd like to see the breakdown of hospitalisation FOR covid, not just those in hospital who test positive on the routine swabs. It's irrelevant without that.

Yes.

It's absolutely ridiculous that these figures are not noted separately. It's even more ridiculous that this has been known to be an issue since last year and still hasn't been rectified.

Original poster

Covidworries · 23/09/2021 09:51

Yes i agree, its the transparacy which is the issue

OP posts:

pontypridd · 23/09/2021 10:03

I took DS to hospital recently OP. We went to A & E. There were no Covid safety procedures in place at all. At no time was he or I tested. No hand gel available anywhere - no masks required.

Waiting area seats as usual right close to each other. No attempt to work out if anyone had Covid, let alone separate them. A child came in coughing so badly. DS was very worried. I spoke to a nurse about our worries, waiting so crammed up and close and with the child coughing etc. Nurse was very dismissive and rude. So DS and I went and waited in the breastfeeding room.

Honestly can't imagine how anyone in hospital at the moment could fail to catch Covid going from that experience.

AGreenerShadeofKale · 23/09/2021 10:06

Pontypridd that's both shocking and unsurprising at the same time.

AGreenerShadeofKale · 23/09/2021 10:08

As someone who likes a good statistic that number as pointed out isn't telling us anything beyond covid being around in school age kids. Which we know from anecdote.

fungussingstheblues · 23/09/2021 11:52

I have asked for this breakdown information via an FOI request to PHS. Should have it in 20 days.

ditalini · 23/09/2021 11:58

Yes, this is a useless statistic, presumably meant to encourage uptake of the vaccine in the over 12s.

Given the high levels of covid circulating in the community, and routine testing on admission to hospital, it would be really odd if these sort of numbers of children weren't being found positive on admission.

Given the low numbers of vaccinated children under 16 it's not surprising that there are very few of them being hospitalised for any reason.

ditalini · 23/09/2021 12:00

It would be more meaningful (but probably impossible to gather as small numbers and short time frame) if they had stats comparing hospitalisation of high-risk children who had been vaccinated and those that hadn't, although again only if the hospitalisation was covid related as there will be a higher rate of hospital attendance in these children normally.

Djifunrsn · 23/09/2021 12:04

I know a 17yo: fit, sporty, slim, female, white, no health conditions (ie not a sniff of any risk factor ever mentioned) whatsoever who caught covid and has suffered horrendously with it. My 2 teens in the 12-15 category are getting done next week, if they have not already caught it by then.

TheGrumpyGoat · 23/09/2021 12:07

@pontypridd

I took DS to hospital recently OP. We went to A & E. There were no Covid safety procedures in place at all. At no time was he or I tested. No hand gel available anywhere - no masks required.

Waiting area seats as usual right close to each other. No attempt to work out if anyone had Covid, let alone separate them. A child came in coughing so badly. DS was very worried. I spoke to a nurse about our worries, waiting so crammed up and close and with the child coughing etc. Nurse was very dismissive and rude. So DS and I went and waited in the breastfeeding room.

Honestly can't imagine how anyone in hospital at the moment could fail to catch Covid going from that experience.

I went to A&E last week. We were asked a series of questions at the desk, and anyone with suspected Covid symptoms were taken to another building. Chairs were all 2m apart, no one was allowed to have anyone with them unless they needed them for mobility/support reasons. Everyone in masks in the waiting room. Hand sanitiser dotted around everywhere. So I guess it depends on your hospital.