The Health Minister is visiting Wexford General Hospital this morning to speak to those impacted by a significant fire at the site yesterday afternoon.
The blaze has been declared a ‘Major Emergency’, with 200 patients in the process of being evacuated from the hospital.
The operation continued through the night at Wexford General Hospital - and will continue today.
Members of the National Ambulance Service are being assisted by the Order of Malta and Lifeline Ambulance Service in transferring 207 patients from the Hospital.
They’re being moved to several facilities including St.Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, University Hospital Waterford, as well as St.Vincent’s and the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
In a statement, the Ireland East Hospital group said the process will take up to 24 hours.
A major emergency was declared at the site after the fire resulted in the building incurring major damage.
The hospital's accident and emergency department will remain closed until further notice, and all elective procedures and outpatient appointments scheduled for this week have been cancelled.
I'm thinking of patients, their families and staff from Wexford Hospital tonight.
I can't imagine how traumatic it must be to have your sick loved one shipped off (and rightly so), to another hospital that could be hours away— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) March 1, 2023
"A Miracle"
Lord Mayor of Wexford, Maura Bell, says it's a miracle nobody was hurt.
The Labour Party Councillor has paid tribute to the emergency workers.
"We're just so, so lucky," she said.
"The fact that everyone, the emergency services, acted so quickly, to be able to save lives."
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also thanked the emergency services for their speedy reaction.
In a statement issued late last night, the Fine Gael leader said he'll be receiving an update today.
“Our thoughts are also with the hundreds of patients who have had to be evacuated from the hospital, as well as their families, and the staff and management dealing with this unprecedented situation."
