Health & Fitness

Patient Brings Fentanyl Into Falmouth Hospital, Closing Emergency Room

Ambulances are being diverted to other hospitals, as fire officials gave no estimation on when the emergency room will reopen.

Hospital officials said a patient in possession of fentanyl came to the emergency room. Several hospital employees were exposed and are being treated, officials said.
Hospital officials said a patient in possession of fentanyl came to the emergency room. Several hospital employees were exposed and are being treated, officials said. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

FALMOUTH, MA — Falmouth Hospital closed its emergency room and is sending ambulances to other, nearby hospitals after a hazardous materials incident Thursday afternoon.

Hospital officials said a patient in possession of fentanyl came to the emergency room. Several hospital employees were exposed and are being treated, officials said.

Falmouth fire, police and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials arrived on scene and closed the emergency room to make sure the rest of it was hazard free.

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Falmouth fire officials said the emergency room reopened around 6:15 p.m., and ambulances can be sent to the hospital again. During the incident, patients who normally would be sent to Falmouth Hospital were sent to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

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