Mantes-la-Jolie: hospital without electricity for four hours

Big glitch. All morning, the hospital in Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines) experienced a power outage, the cause of which could not be precisely determined. The incident began around 8 a.m. and continued until at least 12 p.m. The entire building was damaged. Some patients, among the most severe cases, had to be transferred to nearby hospitals.

“People with monitoring (electrical vital sign monitoring devices) were immediately evacuated. We provided safety to patients who needed it,” we told the management of the François Quesnay hospital, without being able to give a figure.

The generators did not take over control

The dining room was also damaged; late in the morning it was impossible to prepare hot food. Most patients had to make do with a slice of bread and ham or cheese.

The hospital has several generators to deal with such problems, several employees said. But judging by the very first elements, they were unable to gain the upper hand. “It’s very rare that we experience breakdowns and groups take over. But not this time… This is the first time this has happened. I find it amazing,” one of them admits.