The Calderdale Same Day Children's Hubs which support Calderdale A&E during winter pressures has been awarded a contract to run until 2029. The Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) hubs have also been extended to 2028. Both hubs run from September to April.

Through last winter, CRH A&E were able to refer appropriate patients directly into the service, helping to reduce waiting times and ensure children are managed in the most appropriate setting. The service will start up again in September 2026.

These hubs allow Pennine GP Alliance (PGPA) to deliver accessible, neighbourhood based urgent care across Calderdale. The Same Day Children’s Hubs were first introduced in December 2025 to provide fast, safe, same-day assessment and treatment for children with acute illness. The service is designed to support families by ensuring children can be assessed quickly and appropriately in a local, primary care setting.

Each of Calderdale’s five Primary Care Networks (PCNs) hosts a hub, which sees children presenting with a range of acute symptoms including cough, sore throat and earache; mild rashes or eczema flare-ups; mild abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea; mild asthma exacerbations; urinary tract infections; and general unwellness. Appointments are booked via GP practices, ensuring children are seen promptly by experienced clinicians in a calm and appropriate environment.

From December 2025 to April 2026, 6,000 appointments were utilised by parents/carers with concerns about their child.

The hubs also use rapid Point of Care Testing (POCT) to support clinical decision making for respiratory symptoms. This finger prick blood test enables clinicians to quickly assess whether infection is likely viral or bacterial, supporting safe, evidence-based treatment and helping to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.