A power failure at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London forced the closure of nine out of its 15 operating theatres on Thursday morning after ventilation systems crucial for surgery stopped working. The incident disrupted operations on six children and led the hospital to declare an incident.

Theatres were restored to full function by the end of the day, and all affected patients have either undergone their procedures or are rescheduled for treatment this week. This event follows other recent infrastructure challenges at the hospital, including an incident last week when two nurses were electrocuted by a faulty light switch in an operating theatre; neither nurse sustained serious injuries.

An internal source described the hospital’s current state as “falling apart,” noting that four to five theatres have been out of use in recent weeks due to issues such as leaks and the previous electrocution incident.

Great Ormond Street, which provides specialised care annually to more than 75,000 young patients across the UK, comprises a combination of buildings dating from the 1930s alongside modern extensions. The trust overseeing the hospital has highlighted concerns that ongoing estate issues could compromise patient care. Its backlog maintenance costs are estimated at over £13 million for the 2024-25 period.

During that year, the trust reported more than 60 incidents in which clinical services were impacted by infrastructure failures, including power outages, ventilation breakdowns, and leaks. Last year, surgical teams had to rely on mobile phone torchlight to continue a complex spinal operation on a child during a power failure.

Similar challenges exist at other UK children’s hospitals. Birmingham Children’s Hospital carries a backlog maintenance bill estimated at £41 million, while Sheffield Children’s Hospital faces a backlog approaching £59 million.

Despite the recurring issues, Great Ormond Street has a long-term maintenance strategy in place. A trust spokesperson stated, “We have a well-maintained estate, supported by sustained investment ... however, in recent weeks we have experienced a number of issues ... None of these incidents have resulted in any patient safety issues.”