Ward fire leaves hospitals 'stretched to capacity'

A fire at Southampton General Hospital has left hospitals that have taken on transferred patients "stretched to capacity".

An electrical blaze broke out in the endoscopy unit on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of more than 500 patients.

With 11 wards now out of action, patients have been moved to other hospitals across Hampshire, including Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

Basingstoke's chief nursing officer said the influx of patients had "put a lot of pressure" on NHS facilities throughout the region.

No-one was injured in the fire, which broke out early on Sunday morning and was put out after four hours.

Parts of the building's west wing were gutted in the blaze.

Hundreds of patients were moved, some to non-clinical areas of the hospital, while access to the emergency department was restricted.

NHS bosses have already warned that the knock-on effects of the loss of bed space in Southampton will increase demand at other hospitals during what is one of their busiest times of the year.

Julie Dawes, Basingstoke's chief nursing officer, said the response of staff in Southampton had been "miraculous" as they moved patients to safety when the fire broke out.

"Between the whole system, we've been working really hard trying to transfer those patients out of the hospital," she said.

"It's put a lot of pressure both on our emergency departments and our beds."

A record 600 patients attended Basingstoke's emergency department on a single day earlier this week.

But she said it was "business as usual" at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and people should attend appointments as usual.

"What we are asking for is support for the public - only attended our emergency department if it's really a urgent and critical injury or illness," she added.

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