Background Across UK Accident and Emergency (A&E)

departments, attendance rates are rising.1,2 There were 908 attendances per 1,000 infants aged less than one year at London A&Es in the financial year 2010–2011.3 Babies, young children and adults over 65 years are at particular risk of unplanned hospital admission.4 Short-stay admissions for minor illness in children have risen, the majority of which present through A&E.5 Families often lack the traditional support of extended families, and there has been a substantial decrease in numbers of health visitors in the past five years who can support parents requiring expert advice. Infants aged less than one year are a highly vulnerable group attending A&E whose health-care needs may be better me