Temporary emergency department available after car crash, fire

MIDDLETOWN — Middlesex Hospital has seen a dozen patients in its temporary emergency department since the space opened at 4 p.m. on Friday, hospital staff said in a release on Saturday.

In the aftermath of Thursday’s car crash and fire, the hospital opened the temporary emergency department in its outpatient surgical services area to accommodate walk-in patients and is currently providing the same services patients expect, officials said in the release.

The regular emergency room remains closed until further notice and the hospital is still not receiving patients via ambulance.

Patients who visit the hospital’s temporary emergency department should drive to the main entrance of the hospital, officials said. A security officer will be there to escort people to level A of the hospital’s parking garage.

The city, hospital staff and volunteers were at the hospital Saturday to help patients and visitors, according to the release.

“Visitors are welcome to see patients at the hospital as long as they follow the hospital’s visitor policy put in place because of the flu,” hospital staff said.

Anyone who has an immediate emergency should always call 911. An ambulance will then bring them to the next nearest emergency department, hospital staff said.

File photo Middlesex Hospital prior to Thursday’s incident where a man crashed his car into the emergency department