Hospitals regain power after hours in the dark

BarcelonaEssential services were not spared by the widespread power outage, nor were hospitals and primary care centers (CAP). After seven hours without power, most hospitals in Catalonia, especially the largest ones, finally had electricity: they were priority. During the afternoon, Vall d'Hebron, Clínic, Sant Pau, Hospital del Mar, and Germans Trias in Badalona regained power and were able to operate normally.

Most healthcare centers have the capacity to withstand at least 24 hours without power thanks to the generators coordinated by the Medical Emergency System (SEM) for the entire Catalan healthcare network, as reported by Civil Protection from the outset. In fact, given the uncertainty of when normality might be restored, the level of autonomy of each center has been taken into account to prioritize its power supply. However, some non-urgent operations and diagnostic tests have been canceled to ensure care for the highest-priority patients.

This is the case of the largest hospital in Catalonia, Vall d'Hebron. The center has been kept operating using its own batteries, as it was planned to have a 40-hour electrical autonomy. Priority has been given to the operation of the ICUs and operating rooms. "If you have a fever or runny nose, go home. There is light in the waiting room, but it's for the generators," a triage nurse announced this morning in the emergency room waiting room.

The non-priority facilities of this hospital—waiting rooms, lobbies, and hallways, as well as the outpatient clinics—have been left in the dark. None of the computers were working either, only those of the triage services. However, many patients were waiting in the hallways, where the vending machines were working. The bar was also open, although it couldn't serve coffee. During the first hours of the blackout, hospital staff emptied the common areas so that only professionals and inpatients remained on the premises.

Generators at the Clínic

At Barcelona's Hospital Clínic, the smell of fuel has become intense, and the noise of the generators, which hadn't been turned on for a long time, could be heard everywhere. "I've been working here for more than three decades, and I don't remember a blackout of this magnitude," said one worker. By midday, all hospital equipment was operating normally, but there were fears that services and visits would have to be reorganized starting in the afternoon.

The tension among the workers was palpable: "We don't know what we should do, but luckily everything is still working," explained a laboratory worker. "The power was only completely out for a few minutes," she stated. The normal power supply at Hospital Clínic allowed the ATM on the same street to operate, which caused long lines of patients, professionals, and pedestrians seeking to withdraw money due to the impossibility of paying by card.

Centers without an alternative system

Not all centers have an alternative supply system. The Drassanes Primary Care Center (EAP Raval Sud) is one of those without. This afternoon, healthcare staff were waiting at the entrance to inform patients that all scheduled visits had had to be suspended due to the power outage. Only emergency healthcare was being provided. "It reminds me of the pandemic, when we were at the entrance," said Maria Rodríguez, an administrative assistant.

Olga Velasco, a physiotherapist, explained that she had come by motorcycle from Badalona: "I tried to get gas, but the pump wasn't working, so I came with what I had. I don't know if I'll have enough to get back. I didn't want to leave the patients alone." Finally, a patient left her a small jerrycan he had on his motorcycle so she could get home.

"I was scared that I might run out of oxygen."

One of the challenges of the blackout has been helping patients outside the primary care centers, such as those requiring assisted breathing. During the day, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has treated patients with home oxygen to ensure their supply.

Lina and Frank, nurses at the Doctor Lluís Sayé Primary Care Center, went to deliver an oxygen cylinder to the home of Maria, a resident of the Raval neighborhood. But they had to wait a long time outside the door for someone to answer, as both the doorbells and the gate are powered by electricity. After shouting for a few minutes behind the door, Maria's son—who lives across the street—came out to answer it. Maria suffers from respiratory problems and had already connected her portable generator, but she was scared. "I was scared," she admits. "Suddenly, my television went out." The oxygen cylinder the nurses provided has a capacity for at least six hours. "If [the blackout] lasts longer, we'll come change it for you," Lina reassures her.

They don't know if they'll have enough gas cylinders for all the patients they need at the primary care center where they work. "The generator isn't working there, but it's not serious because electricity isn't needed for most things. The problem is the vaccines, which will spoil," adds Lina.

Despite these situations, which ARA has been able to verify, the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, assured this afternoon that the hospital system was operating normally. In an appearance without questions after the second meeting of the crisis committee, Parlon guaranteed that the hospital system "has the capacity to operate autonomously even if there will be difficulties in the coming hours in recovering 100 percent of the supply."

In the evening, the President of the Government, Salvador Illa, assured that all alternative power supply systems have worked correctly in the health centers and that "all urgent surgical operations have been performed." In all cases, he said, diesel replenishment has been guaranteed to ensure the necessary activities can be carried out. He also indicated that restoring the supply is being prioritized for healthcare centers and senior citizen homes.