PGRH Hires Engineers to Examine Power Issue

Friday, June 08, 2007 05:36 PM

PGRH ( file photo)

Prince George Regional Hospital will keep two diesel powered generators running until replacement parts arrive to make the repairs to an electrical system switching system. That means PGRH will be on back up power for two to 3 weeks.

Thursday, the hospital lost 2/3 power.

Northern Health’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael McMillan says a switching system failed “Normally whenever there’s a power outage in the city, a switching system in PGRH moves the hospital to its emergency generators within 8 to 15 seconds. For an unknown reason, the switch system malfunctioned when it was activated and sustained significant damage.”

The change over from normal power to emergency back up generator power took place at 5:00 Friday. The switch over took 15 minutes, and staff ensured critical equipment continued to be powered while the change took place.

McMillan says Northern Health has requested a firm of electrical engineers investigate the switch failure. As hospital operations return to normal, staff will be working extra shifts wherever possible so patients who had their procedures cancelled, can be rescheduled as soon as possible.

There was an emergency surgery underway when the power failed yesterday morning. Physicians had to use cell phones to make a call to the blood bank. That patient was then taken to intensive care.

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