Blackout ruffles feathers at GWH (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Blackout ruffles feathers at GWH

A CANADIAN goose has ruffled a few feathers at Great Western Hospital. In a bizarre incident, the dozy bird flew directly into overhead power lines close to the flagship hospital.

Operating theatres and wards had a temporary power blackout.

But thanks to the hospital's back-up generators there were no serious problems.

The drama happened last month but senior managers were only informed yesterday during their monthly board meeting.

Managers stress, however, that no patients were at risk at any time.

Under emergency plans, generators, which kick in the second mains power is lost, are checked regularly.

But Trevor Payne, director of Estates and Facilities at GHW, wants the system called the Uninterrupted Power Supply beefed-up.

An expansion programme is already underway, he said.

In a paper given to board members Mr Payne wrote: "There was an unplanned electrical power interruption to the hospital in May.

"This was caused by a failure to the electricity suppliers' main grid following a bird strike to overhead power lines.

"The trust and our partners Carillion have subsequently discussed this matter with the regional electricity supply company who have now agreed to utilise an existing alternative underground grid supply to the hospital for a trail period with the intention of improving supply reliability."

It is understood the power-loss lasted for less than a minute.

It was the first major test of the back-up system since the state-of-the art hospital opened in December 2002.

Sharron Miller McKenzie, spokeswoman for Southern Electric, said all efforts are made to protect wildlife from potentially fatal power lines.

"Large water birds in particular have poor forward vision which makes them vulnerable to overhead power lines," she said.

"We put bird diverters pieces of coloured plastic on lines which are close to waterways or on known migratory routes. Southern Electric also works very closely with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to ensure our installations cause the minimum amount of disruption to birds."

Kevin Shoesmith