Starship forced to use torches in blackout

By CLAIRE TREVETT and RENEE KIRIONA

Starship children's hospital emergency department staff were working by torchlight after a power surge cut electricity in central Auckland last night.

Starship duty manager Keely Rackham said the power failed in the emergency department about 9.30pm.

Ms Rackham said patients were moved into other wards. Medical machines were unaffected because they are supplied with batteries.

"The generator is supposed to kick in when the power goes off but for some reason it didn't work this time," she said.

A family bringing their baby in for a check were waiting in the emergency department when the lights flickered and then stayed off.

"It was all black for about 10 minutes and then they would come back on and then go off again for 10 minutes.

"The staff gave everyone torches and nobody panicked ... I think the staff did a good job," the man said.

He said the lights came back on at about 10.20pm.

Lena Cullen was on her way out of the hospital to get fresh air when the lights went out.

"I came outside and everything was black then I ran back to my daughter's room, worried about whether her machine was still on."

Miss Cullen's 2-year-old daughter, Marino, has bronchitis and is on a ventilator.

"Luckily the generator kicked in so the machine didn't go off and the lights in her room on level six were still on but I was still so scared.

"By the time I got to my daughter the nurses had already dealt with the situation."

Parnell Fire Station office Roger Coates said a call was received at 9.40pm for the service to supply power.

"It appears as though it was the children's accident and emergency entrance that was most affected, so we supplied lighting in that area.

Three fire units had been dispatched and 20 volunteers from Te Atatu, Howick, Birkenhead and the Fire Police were called in.

While the situation seemed under control by 10.45pm, Mr Coates and eight members of his crew were on standby.

Ambulances bringing new patients in were diverted to KidzFirst children's hospital at Middlemore.

KidzFirst duty manager Terri Killip said its paediatric emergency department was well-equipped to take any diverted children.

"If it was going to happen, it is a good night for it because it's nice and calm in the paediatrics ED.

"If it was full, as it often is, it would add stress."

The lights also went out in Queen St. Lines company Vector reported that power was disrupted about 8pm because of a cable fault.

About 40 dwellings were affected for about an hour.