The ‘extraordinary response’ from the emergency services prevented casualties at Wexford General Hospital, the Health Minister has said.
Stephen Donnelly was speaking after the entire hospital was evacuated yesterday.
A major emergency was declared after the fire broke out in a plant room at the hospital, just after 4pm yesterday.
Over 200 patients had to be evacuated and transferred to hospitals in Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork and Dublin.
‘An extraordinary response from the emergency services.’
The Health Minister says it appears there were ‘no fatalities, no casualties and no injuries’ at #WexfordGeneralHospital. #Wexford pic.twitter.com/eOgxptBcHn
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) March 2, 2023
Speaking outside the hospital this morning, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said it appears there were ‘no fatalities, no casualties and no injuries’.
“First of all, can I pay tribute and thanks for the response we have had from our emergency services and from our staff here at the hospital and across the wider health services,” he said.
“The ambulance services, fire brigade, Gardaí have been absolutely exceptional. The staff here at the hospital have responded magnificently.
“Most importantly there have been no fatalities, no casualties and the latest information we have is that we have had no injury either from smoke inhalation or anything else from any patients, their families or from any staff.
“I have spoken with the senior team here on-site and they are emphasising the extraordinary response they have seen from the emergency services.”
On The Pat Kenny Show, Minister Donnelly said a “significant portion of the hospital” was damaged in the fire – but insisted the hospital will get “whatever funding is required” for repair works.
“I can tell you from my own walk through the hospital this morning, the areas that have been affected are significant,” he said.
“They are areas that include over half the inpatients beds, the endoscopy unit, the maternity wards [and] the services into the critical care beds.
“So, we will have to establish the extent of the damage but it certainly relates to a significant portion of the hospital.”
He said it is “hard to say” when full service will be able to resume at the hospital, noting, “We’re going to need to hear from the experts”.
“There is mechanical damage, for example, to pipes, there is electrical damage – not just to the electrics in the walls but to some of the very sophisticated machinery and some of that is quite new,” he said.
“Certainly, the view of the healthcare professionals I was with is that some of that has been destroyed.
“Then one of the big questions will be the structural integrity. You know, is there rebuilding of individual floors required? So we need to wait and see.”
A view of Wexford General Hospital in September 2011. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock PhotoMinister Donnelly said hospital management “are absolutely focused already on what services can be brought back online for the people of Wexford”.
He said the Emergency Department was not impacted, alongside some of the diagnostic facilities, inpatients beds and day case facilities.
He warned, however, that a hospital is a “living ecosystem,” and some services will not be able to operate without the support of some of those that were damaged.
Minister Donnelly insisted that the hospital will return as soon as repairs are complete.
“There is no question but that the hospital will be reopening,” he said.
“There will be no question other than whatever funding is required will be provided and it will be provided immediately to replace the equipment but also to do the remedial works.”
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