East Surrey Hospital Hits Crisis as ICU and HDU Lose Power
East Surrey Hospital has declared a critical incident after a sudden power outage knocked out electricity in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU). The hospital, run by Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, swiftly evacuated all patients from these vital units to safety.
Emergency Teams Spring Into Action
Hospital staff are working round the clock to care for affected patients and are contacting families to keep them updated. Despite the blackout drama, other essential services at East Surrey remain open and ready for urgent cases.
What Patients Need to Know
- Elective surgeries scheduled for 20 February 2024 may be affected. The hospital will notify patients with updates.
- Outpatient appointments should continue as planned unless told otherwise.
- The Emergency Department is still open but the public is urged to seek help elsewhere for minor issues.
Alternative Care Options Available
For non-life-threatening conditions, residents are advised to use NHS 111 online, visit local pharmacies or GPs, or attend Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injury Units such as:
- Caterham MIU
- Crawley UTC
- Horsham MIU
- East Grinstead MIU
The trust asks for patience and cooperation while they tackle the power failure and manage the surge in demand on health services.
