Sidra Medicine opens Children’s Emergency Dept

DOHA: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has opened its Children’s Emergency Department (CED), which marks another major milestone in the ramp-up of the institution and firmly establishes Sidra Medicine as a key player in Qatar’s integrated healthcare system.

Sidra Medicine’s CED treats serious emergencies for children up to the age of 18, including loss of consciousness, severe trouble in breathing, major bone fractures, seizures and convulsions and other emergencies.

Children and young people admitted to the CED will be treated free of charge.

The CED is located in the main Sidra Medicine hospital building. Children up to 18 years of age requiring emergency care can access the CED directly or by calling 999.

“We have much to be proud of in terms of what we have achieved leading up to our opening,” said Sidra Medicine’s Chair of the Department of Emergency Dr Khalid Al Ansari.

“We worked tirelessly and collaboratively to create a solid infrastructure for the Children’s Emergency Department. This included ensuring that all the essential services were up and running to support the functioning of the Children’s Emergency Department and address all emergency cases,” Al Ansari said.

He added: “Our team built on their extensive international experience with many thousands of simulation hours and training so that we’re prepared for a really wide range of scenarios and ready to offer the best care possible as one multidisciplinary team. We’re proud to begin serving our young emergency patients in Qatar.”

In addition to the CED, Sidra Medicine also operates a Children’s Urgent Care Clinic in the same location. Should parents with children requiring non-emergency care choose to come to Sidra Medicine for treatment, the Children’s Urgent Care Clinic will treat them in order of medical urgency and require a charge of QR550 to be paid for consultation (supplementary charges may apply).

The CED and Urgent Care Clinic together have 60 rooms and are expected to treat approximately 20,000 patients in the first 12 months. That number is expected to increase to 50,000 patients per year over time.  The CED offers 24-hour care and is staffed by an international team with the highest qualifications in paediatric emergency care, including physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians and imaging and lab professionals.