Emergency services have swarmed to Southampton General Hospital this morning (February 1) after a major incident was declared – patients have been evacuated and roads are closed
A major incident has been declared at a hospital in a UK city following a fire that broke out on Sunday morning. Emergency services rushed to Southampton General Hospital at 5.30am.
The blaze led to patients being evacuated from the hospital, whilst roads around the facility were shut down. Southampton General Hospital’s A&E department announced it was turning patients away, except for those whose conditions were considered “life or limb threatening”.
All planned outpatient appointments for Sunday have been cancelled. At the blaze’s peak, more than 110 firefighters were in attendence, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said.
The fire was under control at around 10am, but crews are still on scene to “dampen down”. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the blaze is currently unknown.
Locals who require medical attention have been asked to use other services, including urgent treatment centres at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton, or at Lymington New Forest Hospital.
The hospital trust said in a statement: “Nobody has been injured as a result of the fire and patients in all affected areas have been evacuated to safe areas of the hospital.
“Our Emergency Department is currently diverting patients away unless your condition is deemed life or limb threatening.
“We are asking anyone requiring medical attention to use other services in the community including the Urgent Treatment Centre at RSH or Lymington.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire and rescue service said: “Crews from across Hampshire were called to reports of a fire at University Hospital Southampton at 5.30am this morning.
“At its peak, more than 110 firefighters were mobilised to the incident. Breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and an aerial ladder platform are in use.
“The fire is now under control, crews remain on scene to dampen down. Nobody has been injured as a result of the fire and patients in all affected areas have been evacuated to safe areas of the hospital.”
In a post on Facebook, Southampton Test Labour MP Satvir Kaur said: “Huge thanks to our incredible emergency services for containing the situation.
“You are all incredible.”
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