Soroka Medical Center is urging residents in southern Israel not to come to the hospital except for “life-threatening emergencies” after an Iranian ballistic missile attack damaged almost every building at the hospital.
“This morning, Soroka Medical Center sustained a direct hit – an unprecedented attack in the history of Israel’s healthcare system. The strike occurred while the medical center continues to operate at high capacity, providing medical care to a population of over one million people and to security forces, hospital deputy spokesperson Yasmin Amos said.
“The main impact was recorded in the old surgical building. In recent days, we had evacuated the departments from this building,” Amos said.
“The medical center is currently closed to new patients, except for life-threatening emergencies only. Medical, nursing, logistics, and security teams are working responsibly and with dedication to continue treating the wounded and maintain essential operations.”
The internal medicine building at the hospital has been evacuated, and teams are preparing to thin out patient loads and transfer them to other hospitals, along with planned discharges, according to the deputy spokesperson.
A comprehensive inspection of all buildings is being conducted in coordination with Home Front Command, including the operating rooms that were damaged.
“Operations will resume only after receiving full safety clearance, Amos said.
“We call on the public not to come to the hospital, except in urgent medical and life-threatening cases.
Regarding maternity services, we are prepared to receive women arriving in urgent labor, but at this stage we ask that they turn to other hospitals.”
An emergency primary care clinic, open to the members of all of Israel’s HMOs, has been activated at the Briuta One Center in Be’er Sheva.
Soroka has also opened an information center; Israelis can dial 12-55-177 to reach the service.
