The Alfred Hospital issues apology after power outage disrupts three surgeries

The Alfred Hospital has apologised to three patients and their families after a power outage forced doctors to pause procedures mid-operation.

Power was temporarily cut to three operating rooms at the Alfred on Wednesday afternoon, the hospital confirmed in a statement.

“Taking appropriate precautions, three procedures were paused during the loss of power and we have apologised to those patients, and their families,” a spokesperson for the Alfred said.

“The affected patients have each since received their surgery and are recovering in hospital.”

Backup power was available at the time of the outage. 

The surgeries were paused as a “clinical decision” made in the patients’ interests.

The hospital would not comment on what type of procedures were disrupted, due to patient confidentiality, or how long the outage lasted.

All operating rooms at the Alfred have since resumed activity.