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Sam Boal

Paramedics told to bypass Wexford Hospital after it was overrun by unprecedented patient numbers

The hospital has warned of significant delays for prospective patients.

AMBULANCE CREWS WERE last night ordered to avoid bringing patients to Wexford General Hospital after the hospital’s emergency department was overrun with patients, The Journal has learned.  

Paramedics in the region were sent a text message yesterday informing them to avoid Wexford Hospital until 9pm last night. 

They were instead told to drive to Waterford Hospital – 60km from the Wexford facility. However, the text also stated that patients who required resuscitation were still authorised to be dropped off by ambulance.

“With immediate effect and until 21:00 hours, all crews are to bypass Wexford General Hospital in favour of Waterford except in the event of a patient requiring resus [sic]. This is a direct instruction from the National Director,” the message read. 

HSE operational data, which is released on a daily basis, shows that there were no ICU or high dependency unit (HDU) beds available in Wexford yesterday. Nine people were on trolleys there yesterday, according to figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation as part of their Trolley Watch initiative. 

Ger Carthy, who is a member of the National Ambulance Service, as well as a local councillor in the Wexford area, said that the emergency department was effectively shut to give the hospital “protection time” to get the numbers in the hospital down. 

Speaking in his capacity as a councillor, he told The Journal: “Daytime yesterday, Wexford General had an unprecedented amount of presentations to the emergency department. There were walk-ins as well as ambulance drop-offs. The decision was made to request Wexford be bypassed. It was to give them protective time to get their numbers down.

“This is a busy time for the health service anyway but Covid is alive in the community right now. There were extra resources put in to take the pressure off them. 

“I want to recognise the resilience of the staff at Wexford General as well as the NAS staff. These people are also not immune to the virus and have to adhere to HSE guidelines as well.”

A spokesperson for the hospital said the emergency room remains exceptionally busy and urged people to consider their “care options” before attending the hospital. 

She said: “The Emergency Department at Wexford General Hospital was exceptionally busy yesterday afternoon/evening (28 December 2021).

“In order to prioritise the safety and treatment of patients in the department, as well as those continuing to present to the hospital, an ambulance bypass protocol was requested and activated for a number of hours. This was arranged in consultation with the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG), and our colleagues in the South/Southwest Hospital Group (S/SWHG) and the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

“As always, the hospital will see and treat the sickest patients and those requiring urgent care first. If you attend the Emergency Department and do not need urgent treatment we regret that there may be significant delays and long waiting times.”

The hospital thanked its staff for their hard work.    

‘No Plan B’

Responding to the hospital bypass, INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said incidents like this are inevitable due to a lack of a Plan B from the HSE when it comes to hospital capacity.

“Every year between Christmas and New Year we see a spike in attendance at our Emergency Departments but now in the context of Covid, particularly with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, it is wholly irresponsible that we still do not have a Plan B in place for our scaling up capacity within our acute hospital system.

“We need private hospitals on the pitch so our health service can act as one at this extremely difficult time,” she told The Journal

The INMO said it has asked the HSE for a winter plan since mid-July. 

“It is now time to scale back activity to emergency activity only. If we have 244 in hospital for whom there are no beds on 29 December, we know that figure will be three times that amount in early January.

“Our public health service is too small to try provide emergency care, Covid care and carry out elective treatments. Urgent elective work must be prioritised through the private hospital system.

Speaking this morning to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, HSE chief operations officer Anne O’Connor said the health service is busy across the board right now.

Activity is expected to ramp up further next week as it is traditionally when GPs begin referring more people to hospital after Christmas.

She said this is always a particularly busy time for Irish hospitals, both because of GP referrals and seasonal illnesses such as the flu, but that Covid continues to further complicate the situation.

Head of the Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Limerick, Dr Catherine Motherway, says that ICUs are currently under “significant pressure” due to Covid-19 and other seasonal illnesses.

 

 

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    Mute Maximus_Demonus #FBPE
    Favourite Maximus_Demonus #FBPE
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:43 PM

    So, it begins. the overworked unappreciated medical staff will have to deal with this. I sincerely hope it won’t be too bad for them and they are rewarded for their unselfish sacrifice.

    417
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    Mute Eugene Kelly
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    Dec 29th 2021, 9:20 PM

    @Maximus_Demonus #FBPE: you do realise they get paid yeah?

    27
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    Mute Jon Boylan
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    Dec 30th 2021, 1:43 AM

    @Eugene Kelly: Agree – wait for it – huff and puff heroes and then the pay rise. Get on with it – its a bloody winter flu.

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    Mute Alan Byrne
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    Dec 30th 2021, 3:02 AM

    @Jon Boylan: Have you ever worked in healthcare? Because I am as a nurse. Have you ever dressed in full PPE looking after covid patients? Probably not! Have you ever done CPR on a child and have to tell the parents sorry there’s nothing more we can do! Have you ever been spat on, punched, threaten with a knife? Probably not! Do you struggle to pay rent every month because of the pay your on? Do you live paycheck to paycheck? I don’t want to be called a hero I just want a decent pay that reflects the work I do!!

    49
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    Mute Pablo
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    Dec 30th 2021, 8:59 AM

    @Alan Byrne: Of coarse he doesn’t. He’s the bloke that never achieves much, will never do an ounce more than the minimum, but it’s always someone else’s fault he never gets far. You can smell his type a mile away … no brains & a bad attitude

    14
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    Mute Will Thompson
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    Dec 30th 2021, 9:34 AM

    @Alan Byrne: Thank you for everything you do and have done throughout this, I can’t give you what you deserve but you have my appreciation.

    10
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    Mute Mentis Green
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:06 PM

    Reid has absolutely no business being the CEO of the HSE, he no distinguished or successful track record in such an area nor has he any related educational background.

    He appears the definition of a poltical friend appointment having previously been on the fingal council.

    He draws a grotesque and totally unwarranted €420,000 salary from the tax payer which is in no way based on past performance or achievements delivered to the public.

    ICU/HDU critical care bed capacity has not moved an iota during the pandemic it remains one of the worst per captia in europe.

    204
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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:11 PM

    @Mentis Green: nor had Tony O Brien who improved nothing except his salary and pension

    85
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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:32 PM

    @Mentis Green: factual position is permanent ICU has increased by 25% since start of pandemic, 900 additional acute beds put in place and 12,000 of the extra 16,000 budget for already hired

    34
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    Mute Mentis Green
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:45 PM

    @Ian James Burgess:

    Yes the application and appointment process for such important positions needs to be very transparent and grueling (a health centric interview panel) with less bureaucratic and political interference.

    Applicants should be suitably qualified and experienced in the area of large scale health service management with a good track record (candidates should be sought from successful regions abroad).

    The initial salary should be based solely on the quality and prestige (past record) of the candidate procured.

    The panel should agree on the candidate and then produce a candidate criteria selection reasoning form to be registered publicly.
    This can then be assessed and referred back to in future by all as an informative guide.

    17
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    Mute Mentis Green
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    Dec 29th 2021, 7:03 PM

    @Stephen Kearon:
    Our ICU critical care beds per capita remains close to the worst in Europe with a baseline of ~300.

    Yes it can be expanded to reach about 350 (still extremely poor) by redeploying staff and resources though of course that means curtailing other vital scheduled care.

    17
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    Mute ChronicAnxiety
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    Dec 29th 2021, 7:04 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: the prospectus report from 2008 recommended 436 ICU beds by 2020, the number of extra ICU beds “funded” increased from 255 in March 2020 to 304 now. Although the number fully staffed beds is less than this.
    Your “factual” position is questionable.

    21
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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Dec 29th 2021, 8:14 PM

    @Mentis Green: He wasn’t on Fingal County Council, he was Chief Executive Officer of Fingal County Council, there’s a big difference and itself a big organisation with hundreds of millions of a budget. But don’t let facts get in the way of a useless rant.

    25
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    Mute Pablo
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    Dec 30th 2021, 9:17 AM

    @Mentis Green: Went from an underground cable jointer to Executive Director of Networks and Operations in 5 years when working for Eircom, so somebody saw some smarts in him.

    What’s your CV like ?

    5
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    Mute Michael Carty
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    Dec 30th 2021, 6:24 PM

    @Mentis Green: Factuality incorrect and potentially libel

    1
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    Mute James Fox
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:52 PM

    The health service is this country is gone over a cliff. I know because I’m a patient stuck in the middle of it. Be glad those who have their health and live life to the full.

    196
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:54 PM

    @James Fox: has gone or is going. Not is gone.

    37
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    Mute Sam Louise
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:58 PM

    @James Fox: same as myself James. Waiting nearly two years for surgery, been hospitalised at least 10 times in the interim. Failure of a health system and it started in wexford General, hospital wasn’t fit for purpose before covid.

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    Mute Cian
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    Dec 29th 2021, 10:34 PM

    @James Fox: survival of the fittest James.

    2
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    Mute
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:51 PM

    This partly stems from the fact that it’s hard to get a PCR appointment and GP services weren’t back from Christmas holidays until today and caredoc weren’t facilitating booking appointments so people had no other choice but to present to the Emergency Department

    107
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    Mute Brian Guilfoyle
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:19 PM

    @: These were instructions to Paras and Ambulance crews, nothing to do with people rocking up to A&E for an auld PCR…

    48
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    Mute ChronicAnxiety
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:54 PM

    @Brian Guilfoyle: People arriving saying they were feeling unwell and looking for a PCR test had to be assessed and tested.

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    Mute Brian Guilfoyle
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    Dec 29th 2021, 7:02 PM

    @ChronicAnxiety: No, the hospital had no beds. No ICU or HCU beds. Nothing to do with people showing up feeling unwell, all to do with the hospital being full.

    17
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    Mute Mick Dunne
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:38 PM

    Thats terrible.

    81
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:55 PM

    @Mick Dunne: surely it’s Paul Reid’s fault with his 400k a year salary from the taxpayer.

    108
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    Mute Nigel o'Neill
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    Dec 29th 2021, 5:57 PM

    @TomTraubert: and no plan in place, just like every winter

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:00 PM

    @Nigel o’Neill: there is a plan in place, every winter. Every single one, but tell yourself whatever you want to make yourself feel better.

    45
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    Mute D. Memery
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:06 PM

    @TomTraubert: can they get a plan that works, what with all their years of practice?

    35
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    Mute Anne Busher Collins
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:33 PM

    @TomTraubert: Paul Reid has been the Head of the hse since April 2019. We were hit by the Pandemic March 2020. He is in charge of a huge organisation of 65,000 people with 35,000 agency staff. You know little of the problems in such a vast organisation if you think he can undo years of mismanagement in that time while grappling with the worst pandemic in 100 years.

    36
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    Mute Nigel o'Neill
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:43 PM

    @TomTraubert: OK Tom, forgive me for being so vague. A workable plan that actually achieves its goal?

    10
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    Mute Pablo
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    Dec 30th 2021, 9:19 AM

    @Anne Busher Collins: That’s too logical for here Anne, you need to rant and rave and have jealousy dripping off you

    2
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Dec 30th 2021, 1:07 PM

    @Anne Busher Collins: I was being sarcastic, just to be clear.

    1
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Dec 30th 2021, 1:08 PM

    @Pablo: it was sarcasm directed to Mick.

    1
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    Mute Why Biscuits
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:25 PM

    I suppose the unvaxxed will get blamed on this aswel yea

    51
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    Mute FlyingDogThing
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:37 PM

    @Why Biscuits: We’ll they do make up nearly 60% of the people in the ICU with Covid at the moment.

    120
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    Mute Alan Wright
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:52 PM

    @FlyingDogThing: With a simple view like that, it’s no wonder the country is getting more and more polarised. Of the ‘un-vaccinated’ how many are voluntary un-vacced and how many cannot receive a vaccine due to medical reasons.

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    Mute FlyingDogThing
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:54 PM

    @Alan Wright: There are very few medical reasons not to get it so I’d assume a negligible amount.

    67
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Dec 29th 2021, 7:04 PM

    @Alan Wright: Can we stop with the disengenius “how many cannot receive a vaccine due to medical reasons”.

    We know why that’s become the most resent push back; you can’t argue with the clear figures.

    It’s crass and insulting to the small, genuine, group that cannot be vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons..

    It’s just another attempt to pivot and distract.

    52
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    Mute Sean Murphy
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    Dec 29th 2021, 7:16 PM

    @Tricia G: how is it disingenuous? The majority of those in ICU, both jabbed and not, are immunocomprimised. If you’re in a vulnerable health bracket, that getting the virus would be very dangerous for you, and have not taken a jab it is highly likely that you can’t.

    11
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    Mute Stephen Deegan
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    Dec 29th 2021, 8:38 PM

    @Sean Murphy: Any figures to back up that statement or is it an opinion?

    20
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    Mute Man U
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    Dec 29th 2021, 6:48 PM

    Where is the covid numbers today

    8
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    Mute Anne Busher Collins
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    Dec 29th 2021, 7:47 PM

    @Man U: 16K plus

    10
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    Mute Suzanne Rogers Tobin
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    Dec 29th 2021, 10:45 PM

    They did get rewarded. In the Canteen a Lindt chocolate Santa was handed out to HSE employees!

    7
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