A study by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of General Practitioners, found that the vast majority of visits to hospital were minor, requiring little or no medical intervention.
The organisations are warning that unless there is an overhaul of so-called "unscheduled care services", there is a risk that growing demand will result in poorer outcomes for children.
They have also raised concerns that parents are either unable or unsure of how to access the most appropriate services.
The report says a significant number of attendances, which have increased by 28 per cent in the last 10 years, were "unnecessary or inappropriate", stating that the bulk of visits are for minor illnesses that could be better treated by a GP or community nurse.
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