Meanwhile, in a study of 39,982 children who
attended a Nottingham hospital ED between February
1997 and February 1998, 10,369 (27 per cent)
attendances were attributed to ‘medical conditions’,
the most common of which was recorded as ‘breathing
difficulty’ (31 per cent) (Arrnon et al 2001).
Two cases studies that may help ED nurses and
nurse practitioners assess the need for referral to
paediatric services are presented above left and below