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A new website that provides consistent and high-quality advice from local health professionals on health issues affecting pregnant women, babies, children and young people across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, has been launched.

On the ‘Healthier Together’ website www.sybhealthiertogether.nhs.uk families and  young people will find advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what to do to keep an unwell child comfortable and how long symptoms should last, for a huge range of health conditions, including rashes, coughs, asthma, sickness, earache, conjunctivitis, head injuries, limps and a whole host of others. The site also provides information on young people’s mental health and advice on things like healthy diets.

It was felt that providing local information from local Doctors would help families and young people trust the advice they find on the site so the information on the website has been developed by health professionals and families from across Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, including drawing on the expertise from the region’s leading children’s health Trust, Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust.

Dr. Nicola Jay, Clinical Lead for the website for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System and Consultant at Sheffield Children’s Hospital said: “We often hear from parents that they are confused and frustrated with the conflicting advice they find online and so often seek out health professionals’ time just for reassurance that they’ve made the right choice. By having all the information in one place and where people know the information has come from trusted local health professionals, Healthier Together can help parents feel more comfortable to make the right decisions about what to do next for their child’s care.”

Healthier Together is based on a similar website set up in Wessex which has already had a positive impact in that area by reducing GP appointments and A&E numbers.

Healthier Together is a community project which continues to grow by giving patients a voice and putting their needs at the heart of the website.

Health and Care Professionals who were not involved in the development of the site are already singing the praises of the site and encouraging their patients to use it. Dr Jason Page, GP at Thorpe Hesley Surgery said: “I’ve been using the website regularly during my working week. I even used it on one occasion when my own children were ill and had to check rules for school!”

Dr Claire Pearson, Clinical Lead for Community CAMHS in Sheffield described it as “A fantastic resource for all!” and Helen Bolt from Sheffield Carers said: “This is a brilliant tool which we will continue to recommend to all who will benefit.”