Operations cancelled at Aberdeen hospitals after lightning strike damages equipment

Dozens of operations due to take place in Aberdeen have been postponed after electrical systems were damaged in a lightning strike.

NHS Grampian said two of its central decontamination units – which sterilize and prepare surgical equipment – are unable to operate.

A lightning strike affected the central decontamination unit (CDU) at Woodend Hospital, whilst a failure with the ventilation system at Foresterhill has caused a problem with the CDU at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Surgical equipment is now being sent to NHS Tayside facilities to be sterilized and prepared before its use for urgent operations which will be carried as normal.

Procedures due to take place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and Woodend Hospital will be impacted.

Hospital bosses have assured the public that emergency surgeries and C-sections will still go ahead, along with operations involving patients judged to have the highest clinical priority.

Around 20 operations due to take place at the health board’s Aberdeen hospitals on Wednesday will be postponed.

Contingency plans are in place across the health board with external CDU capacity being brought in.

Divisional general manager, Cameron Matthew said: “Unfortunately, due to a fault with our main central decontamination unit, we will have to postpone a number of surgeries, due to take place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and Woodend Hospital in the coming days.

“We would reassure everyone that during this period we will still be providing emergency and urgent surgery – including major trauma cases and C-sections.

“The postponements are regrettable, and I would apologise to everyone who will be affected by this.

“We will individually contact patients affected as soon as possible – if you do not hear from us, it is because your operation is still due to go ahead. We are currently looking at every case scheduled to take place in the coming days and prioritising patients based on clinical need.

“We understand that waits for most operations are already longer than we would like, and we realise that there is a very real impact on the quality of life to many of the people waiting for procedures.

“If your procedure is postponed, please be assured that we will reschedule your surgery at the earliest possible opportunity, once the situation has been resolved.”

General manager for facilities and estates, at NHS Grampian, Gavin Payne added: “We are currently utilising contingency plans and using other sites, out with Grampian, to carry out the work of the CDU – but this is causing extended turnaround times for our surgical instruments which impacts the number of operations we can undertake.”

Work to repair both CDUs is currently underway. Once completed, a series of environmental tests will need to be conducted to ensure the space is safe to return to use.