Hospital generator failure probed after Eowyn caused power cut
Hospital generator failure probed after Eowyn caused power cut
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An investigation is being caried out after a hospital was left running on battery power when its back-up generator “failed” during a power outage in the midst of Storm Eowyn, MSPs have been told. Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed to Holyrood “no patient harm was identified” after Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert was without mains electricity for approximately an hour as the result of a “storm-related power outage” on Friday.
NHS Forth Valley said there had been a “short period before the back-up generators came onstream”, with the health board adding that “contingency arrangements were required to be put in place”. However, Green MSP Mark Ruskell said the hospital had been relying on emergency battery power with a “limited” capacity.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, who is the Greens’ energy spokesperson, said: “It was a relief to hear that no patients were harmed at Forth Valley Royal Hospital during the power outage. “I understand the back-up generator failed, the emergency battery that was the last resort, of course, has limited capacity, and I understand it only had up to 90 minutes of power.”.
Ms Constance told MSPs: “There is a full investigation ongoing into this incident.”. Confirmation of that came as the Justice Secretary updated Holyrood on the impact the storm, which saw high winds with gusts of up to 100mph batter Scotland. One person was killed, with Calum Carmichael, 19, from New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, dying after his car was hit by a falling tree in nearby Mauchline on Friday morning before the red weather warning came into force.
