About Us
Welcome to the Children's Emergency Department
The Emergency department (ED) of the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght, treats over 30,000 children each year. The ED is often the first stop for children and their families who attend the Hospital. Specially trained nurses and doctors are available to treat your child 24 hours a day 7 days a week for any medical problems that require urgent medical treatment.
On arrival to the ED you will register your child at reception, they will then be called by the Triage nurse. Children are triaged within minutes of arrival by an experienced paediatric nurse. The Triage nurse will assess your child and will place them in a triage category according to the urgency and severity of their illness or injury.Children are then treated in order of priority, not in order of arrival. If your child has a life threatening illness or is seriously ill they will be seen by a doctor straight away.
Contact
We are unable to take any general queries but if your child has been with us recently and you wish to discuss that care please ring 01 414 3510.
If you are worried about a child in your care, you should contact your local GP service but remember that we are here 24 hours every day if you need to have your child seen urgently.
Health-care professionals contact : 01 414 3510
Patient Information
The staff of the Emergency Department are here to provide the best care for your child and we will see your child as soon as we can. We understand that it is difficult for you and your child to have to wait when they are unwell; unfortunately delays are sometimes unavoidable because of the number of children requiring attention. We appreciate your cooperation during these times and please be assured that each child will be seen as soon as possible.
At all times a parent or guardian should remain with his or her child. If you need to visit the ED with a child that is unwell please arrange for a family member or a friend to care for other children, do not leave other children at home on their own. For infection control reasons only bring the child that is unwell to the ED for treatment.
To make your attendance as easy as possible, we have compiled some information that you may need to know during your time in the Department.
Arriving at the Children's Emergency Department
Registration Desk
All patients must first register at the Registration Desk and give details such as name, date of birth, address etc. Please note that a Emergency Department charge of €100 is payable for a visit to the department, unless you have a referral leter from a registered medical practitioner or are the holder of a valid medical card Read More
Triage
Following this you will be directed to the waiting room where the Triage Nurse will call you. Your child will then be assessed by a trained paediatric nurse. It is important that you provide the nurse with all relevant information. Children are seen in order or priority not order of arrival so other children that arrived after you may be called to see the doctor first, during our busiest times the sickest children are seen first. You may then be directed to wait in the waiting room until the doctor calls you. If the triage nurse gives you any specific information, like not to eat or drink, please ensure you follow these instructions.
Waiting room
Listen out for your child's name to be called.
If you think you child's condition has deteriorated while you are waiting please inform a member of the nursing staff.
There are some toys, a TV tuned to a children's station and a child appropriate video after 6 pm, and a play station to help distract your child while you are waiting. Sometimes we have a play specialist and an artist who visit the waiting room and spend time doing activities with the children.
Exam Areas
As soon as possible your child will be brought into an exam room where they will be assessed and treated by the nurses and doctors who work in the children's ED.
Your child may need blood tests, x-rays or need to see a specialist. Please be patient as these results can take an hour or more. You may be asked to return to the waiting room while we wait for these results.
Going Home
When your visit to the ED is over, you will be given instructions on follow-up care, medications and any treatments that are required at home. A list of 24 hour pharmacies in the area are available if required.
If your child requires an Out-Patients appointment it can be made at the reception desk in the ED where you checked in. If for some reason an appointment cannot be made at the time of your visit it will be posted to you.
Being Admitted
Your child's doctor may decide that your child requires admission to one of the wards in the Childrens' Hospital for observation or for further tests. You will wait in the ED until the ward is ready for you: Beech Ward, Maple Ward, Oak Ward.
Sometimes you may be asked to come back to Beech Day Ward the following morning for a procedure or for further specialist advice. Please follow any information regarding fasting times that you are given. See information leaflet for further information.
General Advice
- Ensure your Mobile is fully charged
- Ensure you have sufficient change to pay car parking fees
- If your child has special dietary requirements please ensure you bring their food/milk with you
- Please bring an up to date list of all of your child's medications with you; while you are waiting to be seen do not give your child medication without informing the medical or nursing staff in the ED
- If you come by ambulance ensure you have transport home ,if required, with appropriate car seat for your child
- Bring favourite toys for distraction, Nintendo DS, PSP etc, but keep in mind that we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to them.
- Two people are required to assist with an X-ray in a child under 5 years. If you think your child might need an x-ray ensure you bring another adult with you.
Hygiene
Cleaning staff are available within the Department so if you notice anything of concern please do not hesitate to contact a member of staff regarding this.
ATM
There is an ATM machine located at the bank in the main foyer of the hospital.
Security
As well as having security officers patrolling and posted within the ED, the Department is also monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV.
Taxis
There is a Taxi Rank located near the main entrance to the hospital. Please note that Registration Staff are not authorised to ring for taxis for patients.
GP Liaison Service
GP Liaison Office Opening Hours
- The office is open between 09.30 hrs and 13.30 hrs Monday to Friday.
- The direct line is 01 4142396
- The fax number is 01 4143890
Useful Direct line phone numbers
GP LIAISON SERVICE IN CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
- The GP liaison nurse in the Children’s emergency department is Ms Sharon Moran CNM II.
- The objective of this service is to improve patient care through effective communication between the Childrens Emergency Department and the General Practitioner and other community services.
- The GP can contact the GP Liaison nurse to access information such as test results and radiology reports. Assistance with queries is also available.
- The GP Liaison nurse can also offer guidance with regard to the appropriate referral process required for a patient.
- The GP Liaison nurse will keep the GP up- to- date with regard to the patients’ condition and follow-up needs.
GP REFERRAL LETTER
- Please type the letter if possible.
- Please ensure patient contact details such as name , address, phone number and date of birth are legible.
- Enclose your fax number if you wish a discharge summary to be sent by return fax.
Triage Process for GP referrals to the Children’s Emergency Department
- Please ring ahead on 01 4143558 if you are concerned about a patient or need advice.
- Children referred by a GP will undergo exactly the same triage process as a child attending without a GP letter..
- Children will be seen first by a triage nurse, they are then allocated a category based on the child’s condition and will be reviewed sooner if their condition changes.
Patient Information Leaflets
Patient Information leaflets are available to download. We recommend that the GP/Practice Nurse/Public Health Nurse discuss the leaflet and its contents with the parent/guardian prior to its distribution.
Please set your printer to short edge duplex and double sided if you want to print the leaflet on a single A4 page.
Please click here to access Patient Information Leaflets
