Casualty unit at hospital hit during work

PARENTS have been urged to think twice before taking their children to casualty at the Sick Kids Hospital over the next few months.

Work will begin this week to improve the accident and emergency department at Sciennes, reducing services there until April.

Health chiefs said they would probably be unable to cope with present levels of admissions while the 50,000 renovation takes place.

As a result, they have asked adults whose children have sustained non-serious injuries to consider other options, such as NHS 24, their own GP, or the minor injuries clinic at the Western General.

NHS Lothian added that the redesign would help see the ageing hospital through until 2013, when it will move to new premises at Little France.

A&E consultant Dr Paul Leonard said: "Our A&E department is extremely busy and this work will help us improve the care we provide.

"While it is taking place we may need to restrict the number of adults attending with a child. We would also ask parents to consider other available options."