Mary Papayya

Mary Papayya

The oxygen supply at Durban's biggest state hospital Prince Mshiyeni is back to normal.

A team of experts from the health department's medical technology unit and oxygen supplier, Afrox, fixed the problem that affected the hospital's oxygen distribution system.

The hospital had to use portable oxygen cylinders and transferred three critically ill patients to two other hospitals - one to a public and two to a private hospital - at midnight last Tuesday.

"The problem affected our high care, casualty, ICU, theatres, neonatal, patients requiring oxygen support and the nursery at the hospital," said health spokesman Leon Mbanjwa.

The hospital's main oxygen supply was shut down for three days while the experts located a blockage in the system.

"The experts worked around the clock to fix the problem. Emergency arrangements were made to ensure the safety of patients.

"We have been assured the service is up and running.''