Child patients ‘treated with drunk adults’

Seriously ill children sent to emergency departments are not being treated away from adult patients, including many who are violent and drunk, a HSE report claims.

The report issued a dire warning to all major hospitals outside the capital — including Cork University Hospital, Kerry General, and the Mid-Western Regional in Limerick — insisting “no one can stand over this”.

Under a recently drawn up HSE hospital care charter, which is open for public discussion, facilities have been told to ensure children are treated away from adult patients due to their different emotional needs.