Winchester: Hospital without permanent power until Sunday

A hospital is not expected to regain a permanent power supply until Sunday evening after a car crashed into one of its buildings on Thursday.

Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester declared a critical incident after the crash on Thursday afternoon.

Backup generators are being used to "keep areas operating safely", the hospital said.

People are being told to attend appointments as normal but only come to A&E "if it is an emergency".

A Range Rover crashed into the wall of a power unit in the hospital's level six car park at about 12:55 GMT on Thursday.

Hampshire Constabulary was called to the scene but no arrests were made. One person inside the car sustained minor injuries, the hospital said on Friday.

Andy Hyett, chief operating officer of the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said as a result of the crash there was a limited power supply for a "number of our wards", but that there was no risk to patients.

"The wards that are affected are not ones that are doing any surgery, or our maternity units," he told BBC Radio Solent on Friday.

He also said all "critical" equipment was running.

"It's things like the lights will be more dimmed because we're on emergency lighting," he said.

He said the generators were working well but more were being brought in just in case.

"Our team is hard at work and more kit is coming onsite, so we can hopefully get back onto a permanent electric supply by Sunday evening," he said.

"Kit has been damaged inside the room... there is no solution but to remove it and to put new equipment in place."

He said the crash "looks at this moment [like] a genuine accident", and confirmed the car had been removed from the wall.

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