Elderly hospital patients left cold, in the dark during storm

Te Atatu's St Margaret's Hospital and Rest Home patients were without power for a night following a torrential storm that blew across Auckland on Tuesday and Wednesday. Photo / 123rf

A family member of an elderly patient at an Auckland hospital is outraged after patients were allegedly left cold and in the dark for nearly two days following power outages in Auckland.

The patient's son was shocked when he arrived at St Margaret's Hospital and Rest Home in Te Atatu on Wednesday to check on his mother, walking in to find patients sitting there feeling cold and nurses having to work in unsafe conditions.

St Margaret's Hospital had already gone an evening without power and faced a second night in the dark.

"I went to see my mum and couldn't believe it. There was no power. It was all dark," the family member said.

"The oldies have been shoved off to bed and the few that are [left] are sitting in the lounges in the dark.

"The poor staff have to work by torchlight and that's not safe either. There is no heating in the place and it's cold inside."

The woman's son alleges that nurses were changing patients' dressings with "dying torchlight" and that many were visibly not happy.

"Nursing staff are doing their best, but management needs a bloody rectal rocket," he said.

CHT St Margaret's Hospital CEO Max Robins told the Herald that while the disruption wasn't ideal, patients were provided warm clothing, bedding and extra care during the power outage.

The St Margaret's Hospital and Rest Home holds 89 beds. Photo / CHT St Margaret's

"The widespread power outage in Auckland city on Tuesday night impacted CHT St Margaret's Hospital at 9pm that evening when the power went out," he said in a statement.

"Immediate communication was made with Vector by our property manager, with an indication that the outage would be remedied on Wednesday. As soon as power was lost, existing emergency plans were activated and Civil Defence provisions on site were accessed to ensure the optimal level of care was provided under challenging conditions."

"Throughout the entire time without power, hot food and drinks, warm clothing and bedding, and extra care from our dedicated staff ensured that resident welfare was never compromised.

"Staff worked tirelessly to meet the needs of residents, remaining calm, focused and using emergency headlamps and torches to do their job to the best of their ability."

According to the Ministry of Health, St Margaret's Hospital holds 89 beds and provides dementia, geriatric and rest home care.

While the disgruntled family member understands that Aucklanders were at the mercy of the weather, he was left shocked that a facility the size of St Margaret's did not have a generator for such situations.

"It's an embarrassment when a place that size does not have a backup generator.

"Surely our elders deserve better treatment from a place we pay a lot of money to. Prisoners get it better!"

Robins confirmed that the facility remained without power on Wednesday but revealed that "generators were brought in and installed on Wednesday night".

"All lights, hot water, call bells and phone lines were re-established [on Wednesday night]," Robins said in a statement.

The power was fully restored to St Margaret's on Thursday afternoon.

Robins said the Te Atatu community rallied around the staff and residents at St Margaret's with "home baking, thermos flasks, a warm smile and support for everyone," and thanked everyone for their efforts.