Middlesex Moves Forward

MIDDLETOWN — Middlesex Hospital’s response to last week’s car crash and fire was immediate. In addition to ensuring the safety of all patients and staff, the Hospital worked quickly to solve problems, opened a temporary Emergency Department location and began cleanup efforts.

Middlesex Hospital is moving forward.

Middlesex opened its temporary Emergency Department in its outpatient surgical services area at its Hospital in Middletown on February 23 at 4 p.m.—less than 48 hours after the incident occurred. The temporary Emergency Department is still only accepting walk-in patients at this time. It is not receiving patients by ambulance.

The Hospital treated 12 patients in its temporary Emergency Department on February 23. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, it treated another 103.

The Hospital’s normal Emergency Department location in Middletown remains closed until further notice. In addition to the shattered front entrance, water and smoke damaged roughly about 90 percent of the space’s walls. As a result, the Hospital is in the process of removing the damaged walls, replacing them and restoring the space.

Despite the damage, the structure remains physically sound. Emergency Department equipment has been removed from the area and is being cleaned for future use.

The Hospital and its contracted workers are working tirelessly around the clock to clean and fix its normal Emergency Department. The goal is to make the space usable again as soon as possible, but such a large cleanup effort takes time. The Hospital’s first priority is to make sure that the environment is safe for all.

In fact, the Hospital’s first priority is always the safety of its patients and staff. In response to last week’s incident, concrete barriers were installed February 23 in front of the Hospital’s Emergency Department entrance in Middletown. Barriers were being installed today at Middlesex’s other Emergency Department locations in Marlborough and Westbrook. The Hospital continues to assess whether barriers are needed at other Middlesex facilities.

As a reminder, visitors are welcome at Middlesex Hospital. However, the Hospital is still limiting who can visit patients due to the prevalence of the flu. These restrictions were put in place earlier this month for the safety of both patients and staff.

Any patients who visit the Hospital’s temporary Emergency Department space should drive to the main entrance of the Hospital. A security officer will be there to greet them, and they will be escorted to level A of the Hospital’s parking garage.

Anyone who has an immediate emergency should always call 9-1-1. An ambulance will bring them to the next nearest emergency department.

Contact Information

Public Relations Director
Amanda Falcone
860-358-6980
amanda.falcone@midhosp.org