ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – In just one day, Brevard County’s oldest city will no longer have its own hospital.

After 84 years, the building — home to Rockledge Hospital, which has the second-busiest ER in the county — will close its doors for good.

The sudden decision by the hospital’s owner, Orlando Health, has created outrage.

One county commissioner said people could die, and some employees even protested.

On Monday, Orlando Health shared photos inside Rockledge Hospital, where it said the conditions are too dangerous to remain open.

Pictures showed mold underneath the emergency room, corroded sewer lines, temporary air-conditioning, and other structural damages.

At the protest in March, ICU nurse Matt Price told News 6 reporter James Sparvero the building should stand, at least for now, until a new hospital can be built.

Orlando Health bought the hospital from Steward Health Care just six months ago.

“This hospital was certified before the sale, or they wouldn’t have been able to buy it,” Price said. “AHCA’s been in here. Joint Commission’s been in here, state regulatory agencies. Corrective action was already taken before the sale.”

Orlando Health does have plans for a future health facility in Brevard County, but in its latest update, it still hasn’t said when or where.

Renderings were released of a full-size hospital and also a hospital that just has an ER.

Another hospital chain, Health First, has picked a future location for a freestanding ER in Brevard.

It’ll be in Rockledge right here at Fiske Boulevard and Roy Wall Boulevard.

Health First already has office space there.

It’s at least a couple of years away from opening, along with a new full-size hospital in Merritt Island.

At the construction site in March, Lance Skelly with Health First public and media relations said he expected that once Rockledge Hospital closed, patients would see longer wait times at other hospitals in the county.

“Our four existing hospitals right now, we have bed capacity that we can expand, so there are things that we are looking at from a temporary situation and a long-term solution,” Skelly said.

A statement from Health First Monday touched more on continuing to meet the community’s needs.

You can read the full statement below.

As Brevard prepares for the closure of Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital, we want to reassure our community that our emergency response system remains strong, and we are committed to meeting our community’s needs.

While it is too soon to track or share numbers, we are undoubtedly seeing an increase in patient volumes at all four of our Health First hospitals and Emergency Departments,  adding to what has already been a very busy winter and early spring – and the rise in things like flu, RSV and Covid cases we typically see this time of the year. We can certainly understand the frustration felt by our patients, family members, and our community during this unexpected and challenging time, as wait times increase.

Brevard County Fire Rescue, Coastal Ambulance, and Health First’s First Flight air ambulance and Level II Trauma Center are connected through a shared dispatch model, coordinated protocols, and decades of close partnership. This unified EMS system has reliably served Brevard and will continue to deliver the right care, in the right place, without delays or confusion.

We understand the uncertainty our entire community is facing, and in moments like these, it’s crucial to do more than make promises. That’s why Health First is focused on action, as we continue to work quickly toward:

This is all work that requires extensive planning, coordination, and various approvals – ensuring the highest level of care and safety for our patients. We are facing a complex challenge in Brevard County, and solutions will not come overnight. But our incredibly dedicated and hard-working nurses, physicians and associates continue to show up each day with the same goal and mission of providing compassionate care to our community. We could not be more proud of – or thankful for – their commitment to our community.

We’ll absolutely continue to share updates with our community as we take real steps to strengthen emergency care and ensure our community can rely on a fast, local, and connected system.

Lance M. Skelly