A&E medics deny sending patients home early

Doctors working in emergency medicine have rejected claims that they are sending patients home who should be in hospital.

Last weekend, Dr Conor McGee, president of the National Association of General Practitioners, said the practice of discharging patients “who should be admitted” was increasing pressure on family doctors.

However the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) rejected the accusation, arguing that changes in healthcare delivery means a significant number of conditions traditionally treated in hospital are now treated in an outpatient or GP setting.