Could the fire have been prevented at the hospital with PAT Testing.
Jul 31, 2008 in Pat Testing, Vitalograph Aspirator
Following the fire in a hospital last year where Health officials had to close the intensive care unit for several day’s because of an electrical fault. Using a certified PAT Testing company to check that all of the equipment is PAT tested on a regular basis could have helped ensure that this didn’t happen.
Different wards within the hospital were used to re bed over 60 patients as a safety measure. The following fire report gave the cause as an electrical fault in one of the hospitals air conditioning units. Medical equipment that was effected by the fire was checked and cleaned by the appropriate people after the fire, If PAT testing had been carried out on a regular basis before the incident perhaps the fault would have been avoided which would have cut down on lost man hours and damage to the intensive care ward.
Routine surgery was cancelled for a couple of days and an alternative intensive care area had to be found within the hospital. Things like Stethescopes, bandages, Vitalograph Aspirators and other bits of equipment were effected by the fire but fortunately the Majority of the equipment was okay.
PAT testing is a cost effective way of ensuring that all of your portable appliance are checked and safe for use, lets face it if hospitals are having fires even with all of the precautions they take, ensuring you get a reliable certified PAT tester to do your work is imperative.