SPACE RESTRICTIONS AT UHG HIGHLIGHTED IN CHILD PATIENT CARE REPORT

Date Published: 09-Jan-2013

University Hospital Galway has come under criticism in a new report which notes that 12 thousand children a year were treated in just two cubicles due to space restrictions.

The Irish Examiner also reports that seriously ill children sent to emergency departments at facilities across the country are not being treated away from adult patients, including many who are drunk and violent.

The national review was carried out following a recently drawn up HSE hospital care charter which stiplulates that children are treated away from adult patients due to their different emotional needs.

The report has issued a warning to all major hospitals outside Dublin, including Cork University Hospital, Kerry General and the mid-Western Regional in Limerick.

When it comes to Galway, it noted that due to space restrictions at UHG, more than 12 thousand children a year are seen in just two cubicles.

This is the equivalent of 33 children every day.

The report was carried out by the HSE's clinical programmes for paediatrics and neonatology.

It's to be used as a basis for the new HSE charter on how children are cared for in hospital, which is open to submissions and views from the public until Jan 31.