Due to the unprecedented demand on the NHS during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Children’s A&E at Good Hope Hospital will temporarily be closing from today, Friday 27 March.

In light of these changes, parents are asked not to take their children to Good Hope Hospital A&E.

For parents or carers who require urgent medical treatment for their child, there are a number of options:

• Contact NHS 111 – either online (111.nhs.uk) or by phone (available 24/7 and free to call)

• Travel to Heartlands Hospital, where there is a Paediatric Assessment Unit

• Dial 999 (life threatening situations only e.g. loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or severe allergic reactions) with any subsequent ambulance journey being made to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

If a child is taken to Good Hope Hospital, they will be seen and treated, then transferred or discharged appropriately.

A University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We have had to fundamentally and quickly redesign a number of our hospital services to manage the COVID-19 patients we are treating locally. This has led to the immediate redeployment of our staff to areas of most need, meaning we have had to reorganise care to ensure children can be treated in the safest environment and most timely way. We would like to thank the local community for their co-operation at this extremely challenging time.”