TEMPLE STREET CHILDREN’S Hospital has warned of overcrowding at its emergency department, and asked parents to think about all their options before bringing their child in.

However it said tonight in a statement that if a child is seriously ill or injured, or parents are worried that the child’s life may be at risk, to attend the ED for treatment.

There are currently a number of children in the ED waiting for inpatient beds, and it is understood that staff are working hard to ensure that they are moved onto these beds as quickly as possible.

This time of year is typically a very busy one for all hospitals. Temple Street was “especially busy” today and its ED is also seeing an increase in patients, particularly very young children and babies, with respiratory infections.

In its statement, the hospital said:

In this regard Temple Street is asking parents to think about all their care and treatment options including their local family GP and GP out of hours service before attending the ED.

However if your child is seriously ill or injured or you are worried that their life may be at risk, please attend our ED and we will assess and treat your child as a priority.

Temple Street said it wishes to apologise to any families who may have an increased wait for their child to be admitted, and to families whose children had their surgery postponed at short notice.

The hospital is making every effort to improve the situation.

Further information on the Temple Street ED is available here.