Wexford: Rescue operations were conducted on a wartime basis during the massive fire at Wexford General Hospital. As the fire grew out of control, it was decided to evacuate everyone in the hospital, and over 100 ambulances rushed to the scene. Meanwhile, the HSE helpline number 053 9153012 has been set up to help patients’ families and others. It has been described as the largest rescue in the HSE’s history. Actions have been taken.
Patients were transferred to other hospitals throughout the country, including Dublin, Cork, and Kilkenny. The patients in the intensive care unit were moved first. The evacuation began yesterday at 6 p.m.
In the emergency department, all the non-essential people were also instructed to leave the place. Meanwhile, the delay in receiving instructions from hospital management to evacuate the women and babies who had recently given birth caused confusion.
Around 7 p.m., the fire was brought under control. However, as a precaution, firefighters remained on the scene all night. The hospital building has sustained significant damage. A total of seven hundred and fifty employees work here, and one-fourth of them are Indian nurses.
Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, is visiting the hospital today while in Wexford for various official events. The HSE and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly are currently discussing whether the hospital can reopen and how much it will cost.
Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, a fire broke out in the machinery room near the old hospital building. Crews from seven Wexford Fire Service units and neighbouring counties collaborated to put out the fire. However, the fire could not be completely contained and spread to other structures. Meanwhile, the hospital and the city of Wexford were engulfed in thick smoke. Wexford County Council has issued a warning to residents to close their windows and doors. People were also asked to avoid going to the hospital.
There were no casualties, according to an Ireland East Hospital Group spokesman. All elective and outpatient appointments, including those at the hospital’s emergency department, were cancelled on Thursday and Friday. At the same time, officials informed the public that appointments at Yale House would continue as usual.
The prime minister said that he was shocked; Kudos to the rescuers.
Dublin: Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he was shocked by the fire. The Prime Minister congratulated all personnel involved in the successful rescue operation. This is a terrible occurrence. For hours, the fire department and other emergency personnel worked to bring the situation under control. Varadkar also stated that the country salutes their brave and noble actions.
Families, employees, and management are all in financial distress. The Prime Minister said that the country and the government are with them. He stated that the government will do whatever it takes to recover from the incident.
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinan expressed solidarity with the hospital’s patients and staff. An INMO spokesman thanked the fire brigade and other departments for their response to the tragedy.
The fire broke out in the plant room… no damage has been determined.
According to a statement issued by Wexford County Council, the fire began in the hospital’s plant room.
The plant room is a storage area for mechanical equipment such as boilers and water pumps. The cause is yet to be determined. The hospital’s damage continues to worsen. Wexford General Hospital has 280 beds and offers inpatient, outpatient, daycare, outreach, and emergency care. Two kilometres from Wexford town. The hospital is located on Newtown Road in Carricklawn, a residential area.
Long queues of ambulances
More than 200 patients were required to be transferred. Garda escorted critical-care ambulances. On the roads, there were long lines of ambulances. Patients in critical condition were transferred to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin, St. Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny, and University Hospital Waterford.
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