Still no answers about the future for
Wexford General Hospital
Thursday 21 May, 2009
Despite a clear and simple request to tell the Dáil
what is the future for 24 hour Accident & Emergency
cover at Wexford General Hospital, the Minister for
Health told us that nothing is decided.
Wexford Labour Party Deputy Brendan Howlin told the Dáil
last night that staff in the hospital know that plans
are already being put in place to end 24 hour A&E
cover. It is clearly the intention of the HSE to present
the people of Wexford with a done deal.
“This is completely unacceptable to the people of
Wexford,” Deputy Howlin said. “The ending of 24 hour
A&E is the start of downgrading Wexford General from
a fully functioning general hospital to a sub hospital
of Waterford Regional.
Wexford has the largest population in the south-east,
a population which doubles in the summer months. No
steering group operation behind closed doors should make
a decision of this significance.
In the past Professor Drumm has given assurance about
the continued operation in Wexford of a fully
functioning General hospital.
There must be an open and democratic debate on the
future configuration of acute hospital services in the
south-east. That debate must not be confined to a small
number of clinicians or specialists. The people’s view
matter too – they are the ones who pay the bills.
Public pressure forced the Government to provide the
extra beds (21) needed in the Hospital. Public donations
built the new cancer day-care unit. It is my intention
to once again mobilise the people of Wexford to defend
24 hours A&E cover at our hospital.
This should not be a party political issue and I call
on my colleagues of all parties to join with me in this
urgent task.”
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