Orlando Health officially closed Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital today, acknowledging that the aging facility, in operation for more than 80 years, presented multiple safety issues. According to WFTV, problems at the Rockledge location surfaced after Orlando Health acquired the hospital in October of the previous year and began renovations, uncovering extensive mold and structural concerns. The closure marked the end of a facility that has witnessed generations of community life.
Emotions ran high as staff and patients were given a two-month notice before the hospital's shutdown, according to WESH. An article states that the previous owner, Steward Health Care, allowed the hospital to fall into disrepair over the years. Despite this, Orlando Health has announced plans to invest $600 million in a new hospital in Brevard County and is in the process of enhancing services at Melbourne Hospital and Sebastian River Hospital.
The closure has sparked backlash among residents and raised concerns about the availability of emergency care in the area. Amidst the outcry, Health First has stepped forward, highlighting ongoing measures to accommodate the increased patient load and uphold emergency services in Brevard County. "Our four existing hospitals right now, we have bed capacity that we can expand," Lance Skelly, a representative for Health First, detailed in a statement by ClickOrlando. Health First also shared plans for a new freestanding emergency room (ER) in Rockledge and a full-size hospital in Merritt Island. However, no definitive timelines have been provided for these projects.
