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NHS board consults lawyers over PFI contract after surgery blackout NHS board consults lawyers over PFI contract after surgery blackout
(about 3 hours later)
A health board is consulting its lawyers after surgeons had to complete an operation by torchlight when contractors unexpectedly shut off a hospital's power last month. A health board is consulting its lawyers after surgeons had to complete an operation and keep a patient alive by torchlight when contractors unexpectedly shut off their power last month.
NHS Lothian said it was "angry and frustrated" and claimed that the private operator that runs Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the board's flagship hospital built under the PFI programme, had repeatedly put patient safety and lives at risk. NHS Lothian disclosed that the unscheduled power cut, midway through an operation at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in late March, shut down all electrical machinery in the theatre for 11 minutes, including breathing machines and heart monitors.
It meant surgical staff had to use hand-ventilators to keep the anesthetised patient breathing in complete darkness for 90 seconds and then by torchlight for another nine-and-a-half minutes, while monitoring the patient's pulse by hand, as surgeons completed the operation without any power.
NHS Lothian said it was "angry and frustrated" and claimed that the private operator that runs the hospital, built under the PFI programme, had repeatedly put patient safety and lives at risk.
Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health secretary, backed the board's complaints and urged the hospital's operator, Consort, to "get its act together".Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health secretary, backed the board's complaints and urged the hospital's operator, Consort, to "get its act together".
She told BBC Radio Scotland there were robust contingency plans in place to protect patient safety. But she said: "Make no mistake about it, I share NHS Lothian's anger about this. It's totally unacceptable that this company isn't performing to the standards expected of it, particularly given the huge amounts of public money that it gets paid." She told BBC Radio Scotland there were robust contingency plans in place to protect patients. But she said: "Make no mistake about it, I share NHS Lothian's anger about this. It's totally unacceptable that this company isn't performing to the standards expected of it, particularly given the huge amounts of public money that it gets paid."
In the latest in a series of incidents involving power and safety failures at the hospital, the electricity to all operating theatres was cut off for 10 minutes on 29 March when scheduled maintenance work started early without warning.In the latest in a series of incidents involving power and safety failures at the hospital, the electricity to all operating theatres was cut off for 10 minutes on 29 March when scheduled maintenance work started early without warning.
The power cut meant emergency generators were unable to start, forcing surgeons to use torches to finish one operation. A second operation had to be cancelled just as it was about to start.The power cut meant emergency generators were unable to start, forcing surgeons to use torches to finish one operation. A second operation had to be cancelled just as it was about to start.
Among other incidents stretching back a decade, an expectant father had to use the torch app on his smartphone to find his newborn son in a birthing pool when the lights failed last December. There were two power failures in 2003.Among other incidents stretching back a decade, an expectant father had to use the torch app on his smartphone to find his newborn son in a birthing pool when the lights failed last December. There were two power failures in 2003.
In February this year, hospital staff were not told there was only one security guard on a night shift due to sickness. In January, Consort failed to tell the NHS that fire alarms in 10 operating theatres had stopped working; in 2007, it failed to tell the NHS that panic alarms were out of order.In February this year, hospital staff were not told there was only one security guard on a night shift due to sickness. In January, Consort failed to tell the NHS that fire alarms in 10 operating theatres had stopped working; in 2007, it failed to tell the NHS that panic alarms were out of order.
Consort said disciplinary action was under way following the power cut. The firm faces financial penalties under its contract with the NHS.Consort said disciplinary action was under way following the power cut. The firm faces financial penalties under its contract with the NHS.
Alan Boyter, executive director of NHS Lothian, said disciplinary action and a small fine was no longer enough. "We have reached the point where we can no longer tolerate the repeated, serious and potentially life-threatening nature of these incidents at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by our PFI provider Consort," he said.Alan Boyter, executive director of NHS Lothian, said disciplinary action and a small fine was no longer enough. "We have reached the point where we can no longer tolerate the repeated, serious and potentially life-threatening nature of these incidents at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by our PFI provider Consort," he said.
"We are currently consulting with our lawyers to discuss what options we have in relation to the contract and it would be inappropriate to comment further while that is ongoing. Patient safety is always our absolute priority and we will not allow that to continually be put in danger by a third party. We are angry and frustrated with the performance of our PFI provider Consort." "We are currently consulting with our lawyers to discuss what options we have in relation to the contract and it would be inappropriate to comment further while that is ongoing.
"Patient safety is always our absolute priority and we will not allow that to continually be put in danger by a third party. We are angry and frustrated with the performance of our PFI provider Consort."
The Consort director, Stephen Gordon, said: "Consort has taken this incident very seriously and have undertaken a thorough investigation into this matter in conjunction with NHS Lothian to review the current operating procedures in place for works of this nature."The Consort director, Stephen Gordon, said: "Consort has taken this incident very seriously and have undertaken a thorough investigation into this matter in conjunction with NHS Lothian to review the current operating procedures in place for works of this nature."
Consort is said to earn £60m a year for running, cleaning and maintaining the hospital, under a contract estimated to be worth £1.26bn by 2028. Under the terms of the PFI deal, agreed 15 years ago, Consort will still own the building when that contract ends, forcing the NHS either to buy the building, sign a new lease or leave. Consort – which is said to earn £60m a year for running, cleaning and maintaining the hospital, under a contract estimated to be worth £1.26bn by 2028 – said disciplinary action was under way following the power cut.
Dave Watson, head of bargaining in Scotland for the health service union Unison, said the time had come to cancel the PFI contract. "It's a costly and inefficient way of delivering services. It's meant to mean a transfer of risk, but when things go wrong the risk stays with the public sector and, at the end of the day, the public, because the companies expect to get paid," he said. Under the terms of the PFI deal, agreed 15 years ago, Consort will still own the building when that contract ends, forcing the NHS either to buy the building, sign a new lease or leave.
"The health board should now be seeking an exit from this failed arrangement with Consort and at the very least be looking to bring facilities management back in house." Dave Watson, head of bargaining in Scotland for the health service union Unison, said the time had come to cancel the PFI contract.
"It's a costly and inefficient way of delivering services. It's meant to mean a transfer of risk, but when things go wrong the risk stays with the public sector and, at the end of the day, the public, because the companies expect to get paid," he said.
"The health board should now be seeking an exit from this failed arrangement with Consort and at the very least be looking to bring facilities management back in-house."