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Risky presentations

An audit of accident and emergency presentation of older children

Belgrave Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, King's College Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS

AIMS AND METHOD

The aim was to review the assessment and management of the psychosocial risk (including substance misuse) of older children presenting to the accident and emergency department, with a view to making recommendations to improve services. The method used was to inspect casualty records of attendances over two weeks of 11-16-year-olds.

RESULTS

In no cases was any note made of whether substance misuse might have occurred. Cases of apparent psychosocial risk were, however, dealt with appropriately in the main.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Brief advisory guidelines were written for accident and emergency staff to promote consideration of the misuse of substances in older children, and an information leaflet was developed for young people and their parents.