Table 1.

Quotes from parents of children admitted with an acute medical condition relating to some of the factors which may influence their decision to seek medical help.

Factors	Quotes
Better safe than sorry	“…I think it’s better you go and it’s just a false alarm than sitting at home and worrying…better to be safe than sorry.” (Parent A)
	“I would probably always err on caution and go to the GP if there was something I was concerned about definitely.” (Parent G)
Knowing their children	“Possibly if it wasn’t X, I would have maybe contacted someone a bit sooner, because my other kids, they are more visible when they are really unwell.” (Parent E)
	“…she’s never ill, so would probably be a bit different with her…” (Parent F)