Doctors want childrens' beds re-opened

Accident and Emergency doctors at childrens' hospitals are calling for beds to be re-opened over the winter season to facilitate the increased seasonal demand for short-term care.

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine has said it is gravely concerned about the "historically high and dangerous levels" of overcrowding in children's hospitals.

It said the number of sick children waiting for beds has increased by 700% in three years and that sometimes children are waiting more than 12 hours on trolleys.

Professor Ronan O'Sullivan, Consultant at Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin, said the problem is that too many beds have been closed.