Sterilising Unit Damages Room at Burwood Hospital

The door of a sterilising unit at Burwood Hospital blew out just after midday today causing damage to the machine, wall and ceiling in the Sterile Services room but thankfully causing no injury to staff.

“Staff who were in the room have gone home quite shaken and the noise could be heard throughout the nearby operating theatre suite. We are very grateful that there was no-one in front of the unit when it malfunctioned,” Canterbury District Health Board General Manager Trevor English said.

“The manufacturers of the Unit (Mercers) have been contacted and are already looking into why and how it happened.  The other sterilising unit at Burwood – a replica of the one that has malfunctioned – won’t be used until it has been fully tested,” Mr English said.

Occupational Safety and Health have been advised of the issue, he said.

Depending on how investigations and repair work proceed over the weekend, the breakdown may mean the postponement of some surgery at Burwood Hospital next week.

ENDS