New paediatric outpatient and emergency care unit opens at Tallaght

THE new three-storey paediatric outpatient and emergency care unit at Tallaght opened to the public this week.

The 4,600m2 facility, located on the grounds of Tallaght University Hospital, was opened on Monday by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) as part of the new children’s hospital project at St James’s.

When fully operational it is envisaged that the CHI centre at Tallaght will provide up to 17,000 outpatient appointments and 30,000 emergency care attendances annually.

The facility includes a new emergency care unit, which, providing 24/7 emergency care, comprises of two triage rooms, a designated area for minor injuries and procedures and 16 single examination and treatment rooms.

According to CHI, within the emergency care unit there is capacity to deliver short-stay care so that children can have full consultant assessments and treatment and be discharged home without needing a 24-hour admission.

The facility also includes a new paediatric outpatient department with 13 consultation rooms for Monday to Friday appointments in both general and specialist paediatrics, such as neurodisability and orthopaedics.

A radiology unit for X-rays and ultrasound is also located in the bright and spacious facility, which CHI said was designed and built for young people and their families.

According to CHI the inclusion of specially commissioned artwork throughout the unit makes CHI at Tallaght a ‘warm and welcoming place for children, young people and their families, which will assist with their wellbeing’.

Work on expanding children’s services at Tallaght also included investment in Tallaght University Hospital, including the delivery of a new changing and administration block, a new crèche and the upgrading of roads and pavements.

Tallaght University Hospital will also benefit from additional space in its radiology and emergency departments now that the children’s services are re-locating to the new facility.

Visiting Tallaght for the centre’s official opening, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: “This modern and purpose-built facility is an essential part of the new children’s hospital project and is the second of the two satellite centres to be completed [a centre opened in Connolly, Blanchardstown, in 2019].

“It is great news for the local community in Tallaght as well as children and their families in the surrounding areas throughout South Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow who can avail of the emergency care unit as well as attend for outpatient visits.”

Also present at the opening, Eilish Hardiman, Chief Executive of CHI, said that the new centre “marks another milestone” in the journey towards opening the new children’s hospital.

“It is a real example of implementing the Model of Care for Paediatrics by keeping services local and convenient while consolidating specialist services in the new hospital,” Ms Hardiman said.

“This investment is helping to deliver better healthcare outcomes as well as better experiences for children, families and staff in a modern fit-for-purpose facility that they all deserve now and for future generations to come.

“I want to thank all the CHI staff and all our colleagues in Tallaght University Hospital who have made today possible.”

The existing in-patient services provided in the Children’s Hospital at Tallaght will remain in place until the new children’s hospital opens at St James’s.

In recent days, CHI confirmed that a number of surgeries and day case appointments across its paediatric services have been cancelled due to high numbers attending A&E and the urgent care centre at Blanchardstown.

CHI was unable to confirm to The Echo at the time of going to print if paediatric procedures at Tallaght have been cancelled, or what impact the opening of the new centre may have on the current challenges faced.

Visit childrenhealthireland.ie for further details on the new centre or follow CHI @Tallaght on Twitter.