LAST UPDATE | 1 Mar 2023
ALL PATIENTS ARE being evacuated from Wexford General Hospital and a major emergency has been declared after a fire broke out in the building earlier today.
Wexford Fire Service received an emergency call at 3.42pm today about the fire at the hospital.
Five fire units, one high reach appliance and one water tanker were deployed to the site.
The Wexford Fire Service will remain at the hospital overnight “as a precaution”.
As of 9pm this evening, a small number of fire units remain on the hospital grounds.
“It appeared the fire started in the plant room area of the hospital,” Wexford County Council said in a statement. A plant room is an area where mechanical equipment like boilers and water pumps is kept.
“We are not aware of any casualities,” the Council said.
In a statement this evening, gardaí said the hospital is “coordinating with the relevant authorities regarding finding the location and cause of the fire and assessing the full damage”.
Gardaí said there is significant water damage to the hospital.
“As a result, a full evacuation of WGH is currently underway. No injuries or accidents to patients or staff have been reported. Over 200 patients are being transferred to a number of different hospitals.”
The National Ambulance Service is working with the hospital to treat patients and transport them to hospitals in Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin.
The progress of transferring all patients is to take up to 24 hours, the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) said.
A series of ambulances could be seen leaving the hospital this evening transporting patients. Critical Care ambulances had a garda escort as they left the site.
All available ambulances from the wider region, including as far away as Cork, were being dispatched to the scene earlier, according to sources.
Wexford General Hospital is a 280-bed hospital and provides inpatient, outpatient, day care, outreach and emergency services.
My 12 @LifelineIreland ambulances assisting with the evacuation of patients from Wexford Hospital , working with the National Ambulance Service. Immense effort from all involved to mind patients especially hospital manager & staff. This will be a very long night . pic.twitter.com/ogRxnjJGLD
— David Hall (@davidhall75) March 1, 2023
Medical staff who spoke to The Journal said they were thankful there were no casualties arising from the fire.
They said they expected the evacuation to continue into the night, with stable patients being transferred by ambulance to nursing homes. Seriously ill patients are being brought to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin, St Luke’s in Kilkenny, University Hospital Waterford and other major hospitals in the region and beyond.
St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin has said it is on standby to provide assistance if required.
A spokesperson said the hospital is working in conjunction with HSE crisis management teams and that it “will do whatever it can to support colleagues in Wexford”.
Gardaí are asking the public “not to come to the hospital and to stay away from the area”.
“Anyone requiring Emergency Care in the Wexford region should attend their closest alternative Accident and Emergency service,” gardaí said.
Anyone who has queries regarding a transfer of a loved one or family member can ring the Ireland East Hospital Group on 053 915 3012.
All elective and outpatient appointments at Wexford General Hospital have been cancelled for tomorrow and Friday.
“The hospital will not be in direct contact with these patients regarding their cancellations as the technology needed is not currently operational,” the IEHG said.
All appointments at Ely Hospital will proceed as normal.
“We’d also like to reiterate that the Accident and Emergency in WGH is closed until further notice.”
Wexford County Council chairman George Lawlor said the fire caused “quite substantial damage due to the volume of the smoke involved”, adding that a “roof in the affected area collapsed”.
The Labour Party councillor added: “There were quite a number of distressed people here earlier today who had relatives inside.”
Lawlor continued: “Wexford County Council did offer their headquarters – it’s quite a substantial building with a large open space if patients needed to be transported there temporarily.”
“This is a logistical nightmare. I’ve no doubt some patients will be transferred to Enniscorthy, Waterford, Dublin but everywhere is under such strain at the moment, this is not an easy position to be in.
“My daughter actually works in the hospital as a nurse and she was due to be on night duty tonight but it’s not clear where those staff will go now.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has expressed his shock over the fire and has paid tribute to the emergency and other personnel dealing with the incident.
“This terrible incident strikes to the heart of the community in Wexford and the broader region,” Varadkar said.
“Fire crews and other emergency personnel have been fighting this major emergency for many hours. We pay tribute to their dedication and heroism,” he said.
“Our thoughts are also with the hundreds of patients who have had to be evacuated from the hospital, as well as their families, and the staff and management with this unprecedented situation,” Varadkar added.
He said he will receive an update on the situation tomorrow.
“The Government will do whatever is required in the aftermath of this emergency,” he said.
An INMO spokesperson said the organisation wants to “thank the fire personnel who brought the incident under control swiftly”.
“Our thoughts are with patients, staff and the wider hospital community this evening as patients continue to be evacuated to other hospitals,” they said.
“INMO officials will be available to offer support to our members who have been impacted by this extremely serious incident.”
Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinan said his “thoughts are with patients and staff” at the hospital.
Wexford General Hospital is located on the Newtown Road, Carricklawn, a residential area, 2km outside Wexford Town.
- With reporting by Eoghan Dalton at the scene in Wexford
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