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Royal Berkshire hospital shuts A&E after power cut caused by flood Royal Berkshire hospital shuts A&E after power cut caused by flood
(about 1 hour later)
The Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading has declared a major incident and closed its accident and emergency department after a flood caused a power cut.The Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading has declared a major incident and closed its accident and emergency department after a flood caused a power cut.
Fire crews were called to the hospital shortly after 4.30am on Thursday when a burst underground pipe caused the basement of the building to flood. Firefighters from three separate stations spent more than three hours pumping water from the generator and main switchboard room.Fire crews were called to the hospital shortly after 4.30am on Thursday when a burst underground pipe caused the basement of the building to flood. Firefighters from three separate stations spent more than three hours pumping water from the generator and main switchboard room.
The flooding caused power cuts in areas of the hospital’s north and battle blocks. Departments affected by the incident included the elderly care wards, critical care unit, stroke unit and other outpatient units.The flooding caused power cuts in areas of the hospital’s north and battle blocks. Departments affected by the incident included the elderly care wards, critical care unit, stroke unit and other outpatient units.
The A&E has been closed to all but life-threatening conditions as hospital staff attempt to restore power at the premises. There was also some loss of water supply at the hospital, which has since been returned to normal.The A&E has been closed to all but life-threatening conditions as hospital staff attempt to restore power at the premises. There was also some loss of water supply at the hospital, which has since been returned to normal.
Mary Sherry, the chief operating officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS foundation trust, said: “Our staff have been working hard through the night to ensure areas impacted by yesterday’s power outage and isolated fire are back to normal.Mary Sherry, the chief operating officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS foundation trust, said: “Our staff have been working hard through the night to ensure areas impacted by yesterday’s power outage and isolated fire are back to normal.
“All water has been restored across the hospital. We now have the majority of power back on in north block; however, we continue to have power issues on the north side of battle block, due to the extent of water damage. Our engineers on site are doing all that they can to ensure full power is restored as quickly and as safely as possible.”“All water has been restored across the hospital. We now have the majority of power back on in north block; however, we continue to have power issues on the north side of battle block, due to the extent of water damage. Our engineers on site are doing all that they can to ensure full power is restored as quickly and as safely as possible.”
A small fire also broke out at the hospital at about 11.30am on Thursday due to the overheating of an uninterruptible power supply located in a cabinet on the coronary care unit. Sherry said: “Patients from the coronary care unit were moved to Lodden ward because of the smoke from yesterday’s isolated fire. These patients will remain on Lodden ward until the area is ready for them to be returned safely. A small fire also broke out at the hospital at about 11.30am on Thursday due to the overheating of an uninterruptible power supply located in a cabinet on the coronary care unit. Sherry said: “Patients from the coronary care unit were moved to Loddon ward because of the smoke from yesterday’s isolated fire. These patients will remain on Loddon ward until the area is ready for them to be returned safely.
“The hospital is currently in major incident status due to the uncertainty of when full power will be restored to battle block and north block. To ensure patient safety, we will be moving patients from battle block to other areas of the hospital.“The hospital is currently in major incident status due to the uncertainty of when full power will be restored to battle block and north block. To ensure patient safety, we will be moving patients from battle block to other areas of the hospital.
“Our A&E is formally closed to anything other than life-threatening conditions. Members of the public are asked to either attend an urgent care centre, a walk-in centre or A&E at Wexham Park, Stoke Mandeville, Frimley or Basingstoke with whom we have arranged a formal divert.”“Our A&E is formally closed to anything other than life-threatening conditions. Members of the public are asked to either attend an urgent care centre, a walk-in centre or A&E at Wexham Park, Stoke Mandeville, Frimley or Basingstoke with whom we have arranged a formal divert.”
The hospital said the safety and care of its patients was of upmost priority and that they were “continually being assessed and managed appropriately on the wards”.The hospital said the safety and care of its patients was of upmost priority and that they were “continually being assessed and managed appropriately on the wards”.