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TIME FOR
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WEXFORD A&E - HOWLIN
Wednesday 20th May 2009
Labour
Party Deputy Brendan Howlin will raise in a special
adjournment debate tonight, in Dail Eireann, the future
of the accident and emergency service at Wexford General
Hospital.
Deputy Howlin said: "For months now, staff at
Wexford General Hospital have known that preparations
are being made to close A&E facilities at night from
later this year. Arrangements for the closure and the
transport of the night-time casualty cases to Waterford
are far advanced.
"At the same time, the HSE keep telling me that no
plans have yet been agreed or drawn up in relation to
any service or hospital in the south-east.
"I now must say that I do not believe this to be
true. A steering group to lead what the HSE have
described as “the acute hospital transformation
programme in the south-east” is putting a new plan in
place behind closed doors.
"The people of Wexford must now be told the truth.
If A&E is to be downgraded in Wexford, this will be
the beginning of the end of a fully functioning
hospital, to service the 140,000 full time residents of
County Wexford, a population which increases
substantially in the Summer months.
"If Wexford A&E was not available then, from
South County Dublin to Waterford, a huge section of our
country would be denuded of accessible emergency
service.
"The Minister for Health is still responsible for
health policy in this country, whatever the view of the
overblown HSE.
"I want a clear and direct answer to a direct
question in the Dail tonight. Will 24-hour, 365-day
A&E remain in Wexford or not. The people of Wexford
deserve nothing less."
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