A major Australian hospital's emergency department was thrown into chaos this week after a suspected act of sabotage caused a devastating sewage flood.
Deliberate Blockage Causes Pipe to Burst
The incident unfolded on Tuesday at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, where authorities believe a vengeful patient intentionally caused significant damage. The individual allegedly stuffed a combination of cups, towels, sanitary pads, and a T-shirt down the hospital's toilets.
This deliberate blockage created immense pressure within the plumbing system, ultimately causing a pipe to burst. The subsequent sewage spill flooded a section of the busy emergency department, forcing staff to take immediate action.
Emergency Department Bays Emptied Amid Clean-Up
The flooding had a direct and disruptive impact on hospital operations. A number of emergency department bays had to be emptied to facilitate the extensive clean-up operation.
Patients who were in the affected areas had to be relocated to other wards within the hospital. The clean-up was a major undertaking, continuing through the night and into Wednesday afternoon.
Despite the severe disruption, the hospital demonstrated resilience. The facility continued to treat new patients arriving at the emergency department and, crucially, managed to avoid ambulance ramping, ensuring that emergency services could operate effectively.
Second Hospital Faces Separate Challenge
Coincidentally, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was not the only medical facility in the area dealing with an internal issue that night. The nearby Joondalup Health Campus also faced operational challenges following a lengthy power outage.
Hospital staff there were required to activate their contingency power plans for the three-hour blackout. Fortunately, these backup measures ensured that emergency services and critical care operations were not affected.
Authorities are now investigating the sewage incident at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Both the hospital management and the WA Police have been contacted for further comment on the suspected sabotage and the ongoing clean-up efforts.
