Hospital wards lose word ‘saint’ in move towards secular signs
IN A controversial move, Wexford General Hospital has removed the word ‘saint’ from the names of wards in line with a new HSE policy in favour of more secular signage.
General manager Lily Byrnes said the current trend is towards names such as ‘Oak’ or ‘Maple’ but the hospital decided to retain the original names without the prefix ‘saint’ as a compromise following consultations with staff. The new signage was funded by the Department of Health. Ms. Byrne conceded that the change has upset some people but said the hospital is trying to respect tradition and move forward at the same time, using signs that don’t reflect just one faith.
One critic said the people of Wexford should have been given a say in the decision. ‘We are going to lose our culture and our heritage,’ said a woman opposed to the change.
WEXFORD General Hospital has removed the word ‘saint’ from the names on its wards in a move towards secular signage.
The hospital wards are now called Catherine’s, Joseph’s, Mary’s or Aidan’s and the revised names are listed on recently erected signage funded by the Department of Health.
Hospital General Manager Lily Byrnes confirmed that the change has taken place. She said the current policy is in favour of more secular ward names such as Oak or Maple but Wexford hospital decided to retain the original names without the prefix ‘Saint’ as a compromise following a ‘straw poll’ of staff.
Ms. Byrnes said there is a move towards signage in hospitals that doesn’t just reflect one faith. When a new extension was opened in Wexford it was called the ‘Slaney Suite’.
‘We are trying to respect tradition and move forward at the same time,’ she said.
The change was implemented after the hospital drew down funding for improved signage which was required following the opening of the new Accident and Emergency department and additional facilities.
Ms. Byrnes said there has been a mixed response to the new signs with some staff and visitors saying they are a good compromise and others voicing their upset. Many people have generally welcomed the clearer signage.
The Hospital Manager said the saints who lent their names to the wards won’t be forgotten as there is a proposal to commission art pieces from Art and Design College students in the Wexford Campus of Carlow IT to be placed at the entrance to each ward containing information about them.
Ms. Byrnes said there is a Roman Catholic chapel and a Church of Ireland chapel in the hospital and the oratory is open to everyone. She said some of the hospital’s foreign doctors also have prayer rooms in the building. ‘We are trying to meet all needs,’ she added.
The Wexford People was contacted by a woman who criticised the new signage. ‘I think we are moving too far into the secular. We are going to lose our culture and lose our heritage,’ she said.
The woman, who asked that her name would not be published, said: ‘A lot of people are very upset over this. I think the people of Wexford should have been given a say in it. I can understand progress and moving forward but do we have to lose everything.
‘ This was the same reason they they took the crib out of the hospital at Christmas. It’s not the majority voice any more. It’s not a democratic society. It’s a minority who are ruling all the time. You are silenced because if you express an opinion against it, you are accused of being prejudiced.I think this should be highlighted because the people of Wexford need to know,’ she said.