Time for the truth about Wexford A&E
Wednesday 20 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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