Elective surgeries scheduled to take place at QEH1 had to be postponed while other emergency surgeries have been diverted to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital and the Women and Children Hospital in Likas for the time being. — Picture via Facebook/KK
KOTA KINABALU, April 20 – The operating theatre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 (QEH1) here has been forced closed till tomorrow until its electricity supply is stable again.
Sabah Health director Dr Rose Nani Mudin said that 28 elective surgeries scheduled to take place at QEH1 had to be postponed while other emergency surgeries have been diverted to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital and the Women and Children Hospital in Likas for the time being.
“The temporary closure of the operating theatre is to ensure the electricity supply from the generators are sufficient to supply the wards and ensure the Intensive Care Unit is stable,” she said.
QEH1 has been running on its generators after a power outage late last night, but faulty wires trigged more power failures throughout the hospital.
Technicians have been working round the clock to resolve the problems and backup generators from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) are being used.
“At the moment, concessionaire Sedafiat is still working to fix the faulty electrical cables that will restore the power,” said Dr Rose.
Photos have been circulating on social media showing hospital staff using their mobile phones’s light to move around while the Fire and Rescue Department was called in to assist some who were stuck in the elevators.
QEH1’s power woes started early Tuesday morning when electricity supply to the hospital’s twin towers, specialist clinics and old medical block were disrupted.
Two old generators were used as backup while troubleshooting works went on.
By 8pm, power was fully restored in all units, including the intensive care unit although emergency cases needing critical services were transferred to QEH2.
However, supply to QEH1’s operating theatre was disrupted, putting it out of use since noon yesterday.
Separately, Free Malaysia Today reported a burst pipe at QEH2, which has been supporting the main hospital’s operations.
According to the news portal, all elective surgeries at QEH2 for today have also been cancelled.
The car park at QEH2 has been flooded but repairs are being carried out at the time of writing.