WEXFORD GENERAL Hospital has been criticised in the latest HIQA report for the “cramped, cluttered conditions” in a ward which was increased from a 34 to a 49-bed unit in January.

The Health Information and Quality Authority inspected the hospital on February 5, 2015 where it was pleased with an improvement in maintenance issues and dust levels – an issue which had arisen during an inspection in 2004.

However, the authority noted the 15 additional beds which had opened in response to an overcrowding problem in the hospital’s Emergency Department. It is expected that the beds will remain open for a three bed period.

The report read: “This resulted in cramped, cluttered conditions and sub-optimal spacing between beds for the 49 patients accommodated on the ward.

“For example, some patient beds could only be accessed on one side, some beds were located next to radiators which limited access for healthcare workers to the patient and posed a potential risk to patients of a burn from the radiator.”

The report said that the Ward Manager explained to them that the limited space between the beds made attending to the patients’ needs “challenging”.

The Authority was also informed of a significant rising damp issue on the ward which would require the ward to be decanted in order to be rectified.

The report stated that the resolution of the issue would require extensive construction works – something which had already been acknowledged by the hospital. The Authority noted that St. Joseph’s Ward is due to be decanted and upgraded during 2015.