Triage of children in A&E: research shortfall addressed.

An estimated three million children visit UK accident and emergency departments annually. While there has been a drive in recent years to provide separate paediatric A&E facilities, the majority of children requiring emergency treatment are still seen in general A&E departments. As part of a research project looking at children's experiences of A&E, a survey was carried out in autumn 1993 and winter 1994 to establish the current level of services and facilities for children in A&E and to see how the triage system is currently applied to this area.