Letterkenny University Hospital has been asked to implement a policy to support children with autism and intellectual disabilities presenting to the Emergency Department.
The policy, as suggested by local Cllr Gerry McMonagle, should minimise stress for children and protect them from trauma.
Extra protections, he said, would minimise the hurt and confusion and concern faced by parents and children alike in the EDs.
Cllr McMonagle said he experienced first-hand the overcrowding situation at Letterkenny University Hospital. He said that children are not being separated from adults and “seeing an awful lot of trauma that they shouldn’t be seeing”.
Cllr McMonagle, who is Chair of the HSE Western Regional Health Forum, told a meeting yesterday: “The overcrowding situation in Emergency Departments we have been experiencing in the last number of years are tight enough for ordinary folk to be sitting for 10,11, 12 hours. But if you have an autistic child that needs attention and has to sit in an overcrowded department, there is very few places to put anybody, every room and space is being used up.
“I would ask we put together a policy so when in future a child with autism is presented that they get taken to a special room and are not unduly put under any more strain.”
Tony Canavan, CEO of Saolta, said that there no policy specifically for children with Autism, but when a child is triaged in the Emergency Department and has a diagnosis of Autism, every effort is made to expedite their journey in the Emergency Department. Mr Canavan said that opportunities could be looked at to create an audio visual separation for children in the ED in Letterkenny.
It was also revealed that Saolta is working with HSE estates to extend the LUH Emergency Department. This project is at an early stage, but it may allow for additional accommodation for various requirements.
