Great Ormond Street Hospital building issues see children’s surgeries cancelled

Health & Fitness
4 Aug 2025 • 5:08 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) used mobile phone torches during an operation due to a power outage, according to a new report.
  • The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found "recurrent" building issues at GOSH, including power failures, water leaks, and ventilation problems.
  • These ongoing maintenance failures have impacted patient safety and resulted in delayed or cancelled surgical procedures, the report found.
  • The power cut involved staff needing torches to navigate the theatre during spinal surgery, though lights directly over the patient remained on.
  • A spokeswoman for the hospital trust said the incident was caused by an electrical system power failure and that an external review had been commissioned.

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