‘Unprecedented’ spike in numbers attending A&E
By Mary Dennehy
TALLAGHT Hospital was forced to use an eight-bed paediatric ward for adult patients last week following an “unprecedented” spike in the number of A&E attendances - a move which limited the space available for sick children attending hospital.
The Echo has learned that due to a 12 per cent increase in the number of people presenting to Tallaght’s A&E this winter, and a 25 per cent increase in the number of patients requiring admission, a unit in the National Children’s Hospital was “temporarily” reassigned.
According to information provided to The Echo, the use of the paediatric unit resulted in a lack of space for sick children being brought to the hospital, with some young patients reportedly being left in the main corridor of the department.
When contacted by The Echo, a spokesman for Tallaght Hospital said: “In response to an unprecedented increase in the number of ED attendances who were of a higher medical need and demand on bed capacity for adult admissions, management at Tallaght Hospital last week took the decision to temporarily reassign an eight bedded facility adjacent to its adult ED.
“The additional beds were drawn from an area of the hospital’s Paediatric Short Stay Observation Unit (POD) which was temporarily closed at that time.
“The hospital put in place all requisite measures to facilitate the change of use of this unit before proceeding with the move.”
The spokesman added: “The measure was unfortunately necessary as all adult escalation areas and beds were in use at that time.
“The beds in question reverted back to the paediatric service the following day (Friday, January 12).
“Tallaght Hospital is making every effort to balance the demands of both adult and paediatric services and again apologises to patients for any delays they may experience during this busy period.”
Pressures on the local health facility have continued this week, with people being forced to leave A&E on Monday due to waiting times of up to 14-hours.
One local lady who contacted The Echo said that on Monday evening people in A&E were told by staff that waiting times would be between seven and 14 hours.
She added: “I left the hospital at 11pm.
“People were being told that no one was being taken into the department because it was full to capacity… and they hadn’t called anyone in during the four hours I was there.”
The hospital spokesman said: “Hospital personnel will always try to manage the expectations of people attending at its ED and will therefore always try to keep patients aware of wait times.
“The Hospital has been advising the public of current high level of presentations over the past few weeks with Mondays normally the busiest day for the Emergency Department.”
For further details and advice on visiting Tallaght hospital, both as a visitor and patient, log onto www.tallaghthospital.ie
