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THERE ARE CALLS for the HSE to implement an emergency plan to combat growing waiting lists as Wexford General Hospital’s emergency department is set to stay closed for up to another six months.
Politicians in the southeast have appealed for a 97-bed unit in Wexford to be fast-tracked to cope with the crisis.
More than 200 patients had to be evacuated from the building on 1 March following the fire, with patients transferred to hospitals in Waterford, Kilkenny, Dublin and Cork.
Maternity, radiology and outpatient services have since recommenced at the hospital but the emergency department remains closed. A Medical Assessment Unit reopened this week.
The fire has meant the neighbouring hospital in Waterford has come under major pressure – figures supplied to The Journal show that there has been a 59% increase in ambulance arrivals since the fire.
However, despite University Hospital Waterford becoming the next port of call for many patients it has been awaiting support and staff to cope with the added demand on its services.
As both hospitals in Wexford and Waterford are under the authority of differing umbrella hospital groups, they are both in talks with the HSE to provide additional support to cope with the demand.
The South/South West Hospital Group told this website that it has remained in discussion with the HSE to achieve additional resources, which one TD criticised as a “lack of proper emergency support”.
Yesterday, Clinical Director Dr Obad Youssif at Wexford General Hospital (WGH) said builders are on site working to reopen all parts of the hospital, but that it will “probably be four to six months before we’re fully operational in ED [emergency department]“.
He told South East Radio that builders have secured a significant section of the building to allow some work be undertaken, including maternity care and some medical assessments.
“They have created safe corridors for patients and staff to operate from,” he said, “As you’re aware this is a very fluid situation and it is very difficult to give a solid timeline but we’re talking a number of months before we’re back fully operational again.
“It is hoped that opening the acute medical assessment unit and Minor Injuries Unit will take back about 50-60% of our patients which will relieve the pressure on the system.”
Speaking in the wake of the fire three weeks ago, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said a planning derogation similar to that used to provide extra beds in Kilkenny during the pandemic could be invoked for Wexford.
Independent TD Verona Murphy told The Journal this now needs to happen immediately, with a meeting being sought by Wexford TDs to press Donnelly on his commitment from earlier this month.
Murphy said it was needed to ease hospital waiting lists over the coming months.
“We know that there is a template there for a planning derogation. It was carried out in Kilkenny when we had the Covid emergency and I don’t think this has to be any different” she said.
“There is now enormous pressure being brought to bear on the University Hospital in Waterford – I’m getting daily calls in relation to the queues, the ambulance service being held up, the staff themselves being under pressure. We need Wexford back up and running as soon as practically possible.”
Following the fire in Wexford, a temporary covered waiting space was provided close to the emergency department in Waterford to cater for the increase in ED attendances.
In the ten days following the fire, University Hospital Waterford experienced a 27% increase in weekday patient presentations, 41% increase in weekend presentations as well as a 59% increase in Ambulance arrivals, according to the South/South West Hospital Group.
The group said discussions were continuing between it, Ireland East Hospital Group – which is responsible for Wexford – and the HSE regarding “additional resources and supports for UHW given the significant increase in demand”.
Waterford Independent TD Matt Shanahan, who was elected to the Dáil following a lengthy campaign based around resourcing for UHW, said if a plan is not implemented in the short-term, then elective procedures are likely to be cancelled.
Any additional resources would require beds, he said.
“There’s no way that University Hospital, given where we are in terms of outpatient waiting lists, in terms of our already delayed schedule of elective care and the impact this is having on our A&E staff, can continue to provide care not only for the Waterford population but also the A&E capacity of Wexford. It’s impossible to do.”
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I’d take this seriously if approx 48 councils weren’t pumping raw sewerage into water courses that supplies thousands of families. Two wrongs don’t make a right but start with those and lead by example.
Our local Sinn Fein Councillor was photographed at the outlet of the local town’s sewerage plant with raw sewage running into the river ..
Wasn’t it mighty when councillors had farmers to blame for fish kills ..
Fine Gael and Fianna fail Councillors were nowhere to be seen in the photo – must be no money in it or they’d have been there holding a spade for some latchico Minister or other !
Would the Sinn Fein Councillors and TDs stand near the polluting of rivers in the border area where effluent from diesel laundering occurs????
Or, over half of septic tanks passed inspections…
It’s o.k – Homebond will pay for any deficiencies …
SEPTIC TANKS WORK ONCE YOU ALLOW THE BACTERIA TO DO THEIR JOB, what makes all the trouble is bleach and antibacterial smellies being poured down the U bend.
That man Phil Hogan left some stink behind him
This is why #irishwater want your details. People duped into thinking that because they have a well and a septic tank that they wont be charged from #irishwater! Think again people …….. #irishwater are coming for you ….
Yep your right.
Everything is about IW.
People should be allowed to leak faecal matter into theirs & others water supply with impunity & anonymity.
We got charged €50 for registering our septic tank two years ago and never a call, a receipt, nothing. Now told to register with Irish Water even though we don’t use the service (Ye right I will, I swear). Don’t tell me they lost the database of septic tanks in Ireland!! Of course we maintain the tank, our drinking water comes from the land around us, we are hardly going to pollute.
Go downstream to many towns in the area and look at the quality of water. CoCo’s have to clean up the waste, start at the top.
Paul, if you had registered your septic tank before the date deadline it would have only cost you five euro. So it is your own fault if you ended up paying fifty euro. Likewise the Irish Water registration, if you tell them you have your own supply then they will not bill you.
Sorry Chris, they can bill away, all day every day. I will not register even for €100 until justification for payment is made, with a logical plan of action for all.
Paul you seem to be on a mission to confrontation….why bother when it doesn’t concern you.
Sorry Paul, just so I have it straight. You refused to take the opportunity to pay €5, and so ended €45 worse off and now you have the chance to finish €50 up*, you are going to be stubborn again and refuse the free money?
* Assuming from your comment that you also have your own water source.
Ah, 2017 – the magic year. That was the year that, if all had gone well, local authorities would “compete” with private operators for the provision of water and sewage services according to the Government memo leaked by RTE of all sources – credit where credit is due. It seems immensely convenient that all the inspections and certifications for septic tank and, presumably, well owners are due to conclude in 2017.
CORK – AGAIN…….
That’s a load of sh!te
Basic common sense to get septic tanks/biocycles de-sludged and checked working properly every year or two, cost around 200 euro
I have been contacting my Waste Management service for over six months now for simply a price , and nobody has got back to me.
The last company who did it for me went out of business.
Unlikely that a county council will do it for you, check your phone directory for certified companies.
Anyone else remember the public being told by the Government when this was being introduced that most peoples septic tanks would easily pass inspections……..more lies again
So Charles do you expect the government to wipe your arse too……
Hopefully they will be getting more than their arses wiped after the election Chris :-)
That’s must be the worst job in the world though
Yes Helen your biocycle will also need de-sludging….you can oil the chain on your bicycle.
Looks like we should have been inspecting our septic tanks since the 1970s.
Seems that there are a lot of selfish people who don’t care if their septic tank pollutes our rivers and lakes.
It’s the same company that ‘fails’ the septic tank… and the it’s the same company that charges thousands to put it ‘right’. I don’t see how they can go out of business…
Is it just septic tanks or bicycles too??
Well of course they did
that’s a shitty situation
have your say