Galway Bay fm newsroom – A dedicated paediatric area within the emergency department is now operational at University Hospital Galway.
The unit will accommodate all paediatric patients from 0–16 years of age and will cater for both medical and surgical patients.
The emergency department at University Hospital Galway sees approximately 17,000 paediatric patients per year.
This accounts for approximately 20 to 25% of all presentations to the ED.
It comprises six cubicles, two isolation rooms, a separate waiting area and a separate access door into the paediatric ED.
It means that children will no longer have to share the same waiting area as adults.
The new area is a measure to meet compliance with the Children First hospital policy which aims to ensure the safety and privacy for all paediatric patients presenting to the department.