Children ‘at risk’ on hospital transfers

CRITICALLY ill children who are transferred from regional centres to children’s hospitals in Dublin are being put at risk, a study has warned.

It also says a 24-hour specialist paediatric ambulance service is needed at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, and Temple Street, to transport seriously ill children to Dublin.

The authors of the Care of the Critically Ill Child in Irish Hospitals report warned that children are being cared for before travelling by general anaesthetists, many of whom don’t have the skills or experience required for dealing with children in need of intensive care.