Power blackouts from storm have destroyed embryos at Flinders Fertility, leaving families and medics distressed by their loss
UPDATE: About a dozen families have been left heartbroken after South Australia’s power blackouts destroyed embryos at the Flinders Medical Centre.
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SOUTH Australia’s power blackouts have destroyed embryos at Flinders Fertility leaving families heartbroken and medics distressed by their loss.
The Advertiser understands more than a handful of potential children became “unviable” because incubators at Flinders Fertility — which is based at Flinders Medical Centre — failed when the entire state’s power went down.
Health Minister Jack Snelling revealed on ABC 891 radio this morning “about 12 patients were affected”. It was also suggested up to 25 embryos were lost per patient.
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Hospitals all have emergency generators, but the one at Flinders did not work for some minutes. A short but crucial period without power means those embryos, which were ready to be implanted, are no longer able to be used.
Flinders Fertility called it a “devastating” and “distressing” situation. There will be a review. Flinders Fertility assured families and patients that “cryopreserved material” – waiting for a later implantation date – was not affected.
In a statement they expressed their deepest sympathies to the families and said the loss of power compromised incubators, affecting a small number of patients.
“Despite every effort by our scientists, the embryos are no longer viable,” they said in a statement.
“This is a devastating situation for our patients, and very distressing for our staff.
“Flinders Fertility doctors have contacted patients directly, and individual support and counselling is being provided.”
Families will be given priority for further treatment and there will be no further costs to repeat fertility cycles.
SA Health Interim Chief Executive Vickie Kaminski said there was “an issue” with the generator, leading to battery-powered back-up; that meant that on Wednesday night 17 patients were transferred to Flinders Private Hospital.
Flinders Medical Centre expressed their sincerest condolences.
“We’re currently reviewing the circumstances that led to the Flinders Fertility laboratory being without power during part of Wednesday’s extreme weather event, a spokeswoman said.
“We will also work closely with Flinders Fertility to make sure the families receive all the support and assistance they need during this difficult time.”
Otherwise, hospitals have been able to operate normally despite increased demand.
Emergency services advised South Australians to only call triple-0 or go to emergency departments if there was a genuine emergency.
Yesterday the blame for the statewide blackout was being laid at the feet of politicians who have failed to ensure a robust network in South Australia.
While experts said SA’s high level of renewable power was not at fault, SA Senator Nick Xenophon pointed to a more complicated combination of factors.
He has written to the Australian Energy Market Commission questioning whether the mix of energy inputs affected the stability of the system.
Mr Snelling told ABC 891’s Breakfast show this morning the generator failure was a “terrible tragedy” and “shouldn’t have happened”.
“It (the generator) was checked as recently as Monday ... because we knew the storm was coming,” Mr Snelling said.
“It was first installed in 2009 so it’s not an old generator.”