asked the Minister for Health whether it is the case that the general hospitals in Dublin will not receive casualty cases for children under the age of 14 and instead insist on referring them to the children's hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dublin Casualty Cases.
99.
Accident and emergency services for children under the age of 14 years in Dublin are provided in the three children's hospitals, i.e. Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, the National Children's Hospital, Harcourt Street, and the Children's Hospital, Temple Street. In some cases very young children may be treated in the maternity hospitals.
All of these hospitals are on call on a 24 hour, seven day week basis. Should a child present at the accident and emergency department of an acute general hospital when it is "on call" they will be seen by a doctor who would assess the case. It has been the normal procedure to transfer children to one of the three children's hospitals if it is decided that a children's hospital is the most appropriate location for the treatment of the child.