Elective surgery postponed after power failure

Photo / Janna Dixon

All elective surgery has been postponed as technicians scramble to fix a back-up power failure at Auckland and Starship Hospitals.

Generators serving both hospitals broke down after a routine six-monthly test this morning.

Reports to the Herald said wards at the hospital were left without power when the generator did not kick in during the test.

A statement for the Auckland District Health board said the failure meant the hospital would be without electricity if it was hit by a power cut.

Technicians were trying to fix the problem but it was not known how long they would take, the statement said.

"Some areas will have battery power back-up for essential equipment but this system has a finite capacity.

"Therefore, in the event of a power failure, it will be necessary to unplug non-essential electrical goods to lessen demand and extend the duration of the supply.

"It is important to emphasise that we are unlikely to lose mains power."

An incident management team had consulted with surgeons and decided to postpone all elective surgery until the generators had been repaired, the statement said.

Some acute surgeries would continue as normal, it said.