By Tate Papworth
A 72-year-old patient undergoing surgery at Sunshine Hospital is in a critical condition after she suffered burns when a fire broke out in the operating room.
The patient was treated immediately at Sunshine Hospital about 9.20am before being transferred to a specialist burns unit at the Alfred Hospital where she remains in a critical, but stable condition.
In a statement Western Health chief medical officer Dr Paul Eleftheriou described the incident as a tragedy.
“In a tragic incident, a patient has been injured at Sunshine Hospital this morning,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with the patient and their family. Western Health is offering support to the family.”
He said Metropolitan Fire Brigade members and hospital staff were able to contain the fire.
An urgent investigation is being conducted to identify the cause of the fire.
Support is also being offered to staff involved in the incident.
