Vol. 562 No. 6
78 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to have a triage system in operation in every accident and emergency department in order to prioritise patients presenting themselves for treatment. [6746/03]
Triage refers to the prioritising of patients. Some form of triaging is in place, formally or informally, in many accident and emergency departments. Triage is usually performed by nurses although in larger departments, trained triage nurses and-or designated staff perform triage.
The Comhairle na nOspidéal report on accident and emergency services in February 2002 made a number of recommendations regarding emergency medicine, including triage requirements. The implementation of these recommendations is an operational matter for each health board and the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
