Kelly welcomes confirmation that operating theatre 2 will reopen

Cllr Anthony Kelly has welcomed the confirmation that operating theatre 2 at Wexford General Hospital will reopen on the 14th of January next. The Wexford Sinn Féin rep, who broke the news of the closure on the 8th of October last and led a campaign calling for the reopening of the theatre, received the guarantee after submitting a parliamentary question through the office of Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caolāin.

Cllr Kelly said;

"Sinn Féin welcomes the news that operating theatre 2 will reopen on the 14th of January 2013. The closure of the theatre at Wexford General Hospital has caused serious discomfort to the people of this county, particularly those who have had procedures cancelled due to the closure."

"Operating theatre 2 should not have been closed. The explanation that it was a cost saving measure that will save the HSE €110,000 simply does not justify the loss of an operating theatre for three months."

"During our campaign to reopen the operating theatre it emerged that the management of Wexford General Hospital had closed operating theatre 2 on at least two previous occasions under that radar. No doubt the news of the current closure would have been suppressed too had we not found out and informed the local media."

"If the HSE was prepared to close operating theatre 2 in the past to save money, they will no doubt do so again. In fact it is only a matter of time. I would urge local government oireachtas members to join my own party in opposing any further closures of operating theatre and in making their absolute unconditional opposition to any form of downgrading at Wexford General Hospital in 2013 publicly known."