Demand and stigma in paediatric emergency care: Interventions and potential solutions

Abstract

Over the past decade, we have seen a steady increase in the demand for care in paediatric emergency departments (PED). Internationally, the annual increase is estimated at around 3–6% [1], which equates to approximately 23 million users seeking care across different emergency departments [2]. As a result of this growing demand, emergency healthcare systems around the world are facing significant challenges. In the context of this contemporary issue, our main objectives are: 1) to provide a comprehensive analysis of the underlying causes of this increase in demand for care and the stigmatisation of PED users, and 2) to identify interventions and potential solutions to tackle this complex issue.