Power supply to Western Isles Hospital

NHS Western Isles is currently working with electricity suppliers to resolve an issue which affects the power supply within Western Isles Hospital.

The issue relates to a fault with one of the hospital’s two circuit breakers, which was discovered during routine testing of the generator.

As a result of the fault, the circuit breaker is currently non-operational. Consequently, in the event of a mains power failure, the hospital would be unable to automatically switch immediately to the emergency generator.

Manual switching to the remaining circuit breaker to move to emergency power is however possible and technical staff are now on site 24/7 to conduct the switch-over, should that be necessary.

All necessary steps have been taken to resolve the situation and contingency plans have been agreed to minimise the impact on patient services, and to maintain clinical safety.

However, as a precautionary measure, some surgical procedures are being postponed.

Chief Executive Gordon Jamieson stated:

“NHS technical staff are urgently working to resolve the situation with expert support from Scottish and Southern Energy.  Patients can be assured that there is no cause for immediate concern and that there are robust contingency plans in plans to maintain clinical safety.  We will have to reschedule some surgical procedures as a precautionary measure, and we will be in touch with those patients who may be affected.”

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