Parents will be given the tools to spot illnesses in their children before they get serious through a host of NHS workshops.

The Mid Essex care commissioning group (CCG) is inviting parents to the All Saints C of E Primary School in Highlands Drive, Maldon to teach them how to treat their little ones at home.

As a result, the CCG hopes that urgent healthcare can be kept for people who need it most.

Research from the CCG found the most common age group to be treated at accident and emergency in Broomfield Hospital was the under-tens.

The NHS spends more than £1million at the hospital every year on giving advice to parents whose children need no hospital treatment.

Dr Anna Davey, chair of the CCG and a GP in the district, said: “We ran two very popular sets of workshops a couple of years ago, giving parents, grandparents and others who regularly look after children advice about childhood ailments.

"This autumn, we’re bringing them back before the winter period when youngsters are most likely to get a cough or cold.

“As a GP, I talk to parents a lot about illnesses that are best looked after at home with rest and medicine-cupboard remedies such as paracetamol suspension.

"But now and again parents bring in a really sick child who is much more unwell than they realised.

"We want to give as many parents as we can a way to spot the signs of a really unwell child and the confidence to take the right action for their little one.”

At the workshop on Wednesday November 14, parents will hear from a group of healthcare professionals and be able to ask questions about how they can spot symptoms in their children or grandchildren.

The session will take place from 7pm to 9pm.

For more information and to book your free place, click here.