The HSE have today confirmed that the Emergency Department (ED) in Wexford General Hospital (WGH) will reopen on the 25th of July. The ED was forced to close on March 1st due to a fire that damaged large parts of the hospital. It was feared the hospital would close its ED for much longer.
Since March, patients as well as some staff members have been directed to University Hospital Waterford, as well as Kilkenny and Dublin. Additional numbers are still expected to attend those regions until full bed capacity returns at the end of August.
According to WGH’s Hospital Manager, Linda O’Leary, “It’s great to have a date. A lot of work from our staff has gone into getting to this point but it’s important to be clear, we still have six weeks to go until the ED opens. We have a huge body of work ahead of us. We’re on the home straight now though. We just need to get the work done and be ready for July 25th.”
Although the ED service will be reinstated, the hospital will not have returned to full bed capacity. This means that there will be greater pressure on the ED service when it reopens. It is expected that full bed capacity will be returned in the coming weeks, certainly by the end of August.
The injury unit will continue to remain open treating the people of Wexford.
