Acute children’s care in Tallaght Hospital will be temporarily moved to the children’s hospitals at Crumlin and Temple Street, as well as the outpatient and urgent care centre at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, due to the ongoing fight against coronavirus.
The new measures will come into effect from midnight on Friday, and will see services such as inpatients, day cases, out-patients and the Paediatric Emergency Department based in Tallaght relocated for the time being.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) say the move is down to an “anticipated unprecedented demand” on services in Tallaght and other hospitals in the immediate future.
They said: “This decision has been taken to protect our patients, their families and our staff.
“In doing this, CHI is supporting Tallaght University Hospital with additional staff, emergency facilities and bed capacity for sick adults.
“Our decision is in line with other acute paediatric healthcare providers globally who have made similar decisions to support their acute adult hospital systems.
“CHI wishes to reassure patients and families that its two other Dublin hospitals, CHI at Crumlin and CHI at Temple Street are open, including their 24 hour Emergency Departments for all emergencies, as well as, the Urgent Care Centre at CHI at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown for minor injuries or minor illnesses which is open between 10.00 – 17.00 Mon to Fri.
“As part of our plan to move together to the new children’s hospital, we have already commenced cross city ways of working so this temporary transition of services from CHI at Tallaght will be done in a safe, patient centred manner through close collaborative working across CHI.”
CHI also took the chance to remind the public not to arrive in the emergency departments of any of their hospitals unless the child’s life “is seriously ill” or they are “worried that their life may be at risk”.
Worried parents who believe their children are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are urged to stay away and contact their GP, and follow the advice on the HSE website.
