Huge increase in sick children has left emergency departments in crisis

“We are averaging over 150 children a day through our emergency department.”

The number of people being hospitalised with Covid-19 might have stabilised a little in recent days, but that doesn't mean the hospitals across the country are any less busy. An increase in sick children has left emergency departments in crisis.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, paediatric consultant and head of the Crumlin emergency department, Dr Carol Blackburn, said the hospital is busier than ever before.

“Our attendances this year are up 35 percent on our attendances in the early winter of 2019,” Blackburn says.

“We are averaging over 150 children a day through our emergency department.”

However, it is not Covid keeping Blackburn and her team busy. Explaining that Covid infections are not common, instead, they are treating seasonal illnesses and children with complex conditions who cannot go elsewhere. Especially since a higher than usual number of toddlers are suffering repeat bouts of viruses like RSV following the lockdowns.

“We have a big population of 0-year-olds, one-year-olds or two-year-olds who have never come across these viruses before,” Blackburn explains.

“So they are getting them back to back, one after another.”

"Try your GP first"

There has been plenty of stories in the papers of late about both how busy GPs are, and also, in some cases, unwilling to see children face to face. However, seeing how busy emergency departments are, Blackburn calls on parents to try their GP before presenting to an A&E.

The situation is not much better in other hospitals across the country.

A spokeswoman for Cork University Hospital ED, which was among the five most overcrowded hospitals last week said:

“Hospital management have requested that, where appropriate, the public contact their GP/South Doc in the first instance and explore all other options available to them prior to attending the Emergency Department if their needs are not urgent.”