ACCIDENT and emergency was closed and operations suspended at Welwyn Garden City’s QE2 Hospital last night (Wednesday) after a power cut.
Back-up generators were brought into use and hospital spokesman Peter Gibson explained that the intensive care unit, parts of a ward and the radiology service were hit.
But as the main lift systems were affected, including those used to move patients around the hospital, a major incident was declared so that blue light ambulances could be diverted to other hospitals.
Mr Gibson said: ““This action was taken because of the potential risk posed to patients who might arrive at the QE2’s A&E requiring rapid transfer to and between the hospital’s operating theatres and intensive care unit when the lifts could not be used.
“These arrangements were stood down following the resolution of the electricity supply problems by engineers.”
The hospital was taken off major incident status at midnight on Wednesday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here