Hospital staff told not to talk to the media
WARNING LETTER ISSUED BY MANAGEMENT
Wednesday September 01 2010
A WARNING LETTER has been issued to staff at Wexford Hospital to tell them not to discuss bed closures there with the media. It says disciplinary proceedings may follow if any statements are made that have not been approved by senior management. MEMBERS OF staff at Wexford General Hospital have been warned they may face disciplinary action if they discuss the situation regarding ongoing bed closures there with the media.
It emerged last week that St Aidan's Ward, which was closed for the summer months as a cost-saving measure, will re-open, but a total of 25 less beds will be available at Wexford General following a re-organisation to facilitate the re-opening of the ward.
After the information became public knowledge, General Manager Lily Byrnes last Wednesday, August 25, circulated a reminder to the staff of the procedures relating to communications/media in the Employee Handbook.
The handbook states: ' The giving of interviews, statements or any other information connected with the services provided by the organisation should not be undertaken without the approval of the CEO or the Director of Communications. Such unapproved actions have the capacity to prejudice the interests and reputation of the organisation and, in this regard, will be considered to be a disciplinary matter to be dealt with under the normal procedures'.
St Aidan's Ward had 25 beds before it closed last June and though it is being reopened the hospital is still losing 25 beds.
Each of the three eight-bed wards in St Joseph's will have two beds taken down ' to facilitate the improvement of facilities for patients within these wards'. The seven beds in Ward 4 and three beds in Ward 5 will be removed.
That is a loss of 16 beds. However, these 16 beds will be 're-allocated to the available space in St Aidan's Ward, which will provide two six-bed wards, one three-bed isolation ward and one private room'.
- CONOR CULLEN
