CUTS TO operating theatre services in Wexford General Hospital have been confirmed by the Health Service Executive, with implementation effective immediately.

It is understood that Operating Theatre 2 in the hospital will close for a period of eleven weeks.

The H.S.E. confirmed the move on Monday afternoon, saying that it was part of a plan to tackle the overspend at the hospital. They cited the continually increasing emergency and planned admissions as one of the reasons why they had run over budget, despite a range of cuts and saving already achieved.

There will be reductions in theatre activity which is non-cancer related and non-clinically urgent.

Lily Byrnes, General Manager of Wexford General Hospital said: “We are required to address planned activity and after careful consideration have looked at the theatre sessions provided and identified that we can effect a temporary reduction in general and gynaecological surgeries.”

Full coverage in tomorrow’s edition of The Echo