Kids face long delays at A&E
HEALTH chiefs have issued a statement to reassure parents that no child will be turned away from the Accident and Emergency department at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, after concerns were raised online that this would soon be the case.
A parent posted a message on social media on Thursday to claim they had been informed that, as of the end of this month, the Paisley hospital would not be accepting children through A&E.
In the message, the parent also claimed to have been told that youngsters must be taken to the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), in the Govan area of Glasgow, instead.
This sparked a flurry of replies from other local residents and led to bosses at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) issuing a statement to clarify the situation.
A spokesperson stressed that no child would be turned away from any of the health board’s A&E departments but added that local parents should take their children to the RHC if “appropriate.”
“As is the case throughout the country, adult A&E departments across NHSGGC, including the one at the RAH, are under considerable pressure and taking a child there may involve a considerable wait to be seen,” said the spokesperson.
“In contrast, the A&E department at the Royal Hospital for Children provides specialist care for children and young people and patients are likely to be seen much more quickly if they are taken there.
“As such, if it is appropriate to do so, we are currently advising that parents take their children to the RHC, as it would be considerably quicker and more straightforward to do that.
“If parents would prefer to take their child to any of our other A&E departments and are prepared to wait, then they are welcome to do so.”