Burst water main floods surgical theatres, impacts births

Mercy Hospital for Women has been forced to call in help from other hospitals after its surgical suites were flooded. Here’s what it means for patients.

A burst water main has caused flooding in the ceiling above surgical suites of a major Victorian maternity hospital, disrupting services including caesarean births.

Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg (MHW) in Melbourne’s northeast provides complex care for obstetric, neonatal and gynaecological patients. It also has one of only four neonatal intensive care units in Victoria.

Robynne Cooke, Mercy Health’s chief operating officer, said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that the hospital was arranging alternative care for women requiring gynaecological surgery, caesareans or inductions of labour.

The hospital says other services, including its neonatal intensive care unit, are operating as normal. Picture: iStock

“Work is underway to reinstate the hospital’s four operating theatres and associated support services after considerable damage from a burst water main,” she said. “No one was harmed in the incident.”

Ms Cooke said patients requiring emergency caesareans were being transferred to the adjoining Austin Health.

“Women requiring planned gynaecological surgery, elective caesareans or induction of labour are among those now receiving care at other hospitals across Melbourne,” she said.

The hospital is also turning to Northern Health, Eastern Health, Western Health and the Royal Women’s Hospital for further assistance with patient services if needed.

Services, including birth suites, antenatal, post-natal, the neonatal intensive care unit, peri-natal and emergency department are operating as normal.

Ms Cooke said in a statement that the health and wellbeing of patients was Mercy’s primary concern and every decision, in terms of their scheduling and logistics, was being made with their best interests in mind.

“Mercy Health is appreciative of the Austin for the speed in which they’ve assisted us,” she said.

“It’s important to note that most women currently booked in to give birth at Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg are still able to do so and should present as planned, unless they are otherwise notified.”

Ms Cooke says if Mercy clinicians identify that a woman is best to have her care provided at another hospital, those women will be contacted by Mercy.