Praise for emergency services after hospital blaze

Patients and staff at Southampton's main hospital have faced a day of disruption after a fire broke out earlier.

A major incident was declared at University Hospital Southampton when fire crews were called at 05:30 GMT after the blaze broke out in the endoscopy unit, in the west wing.

Dean Wedge, whose elderly mother was among more than 200 patients evacuated from wards, said the hospital staff had acted "professionally".

Local MPs have praised the "incredible" efforts of firefighters and medical staff.

The fire has been contained and no-one was injured. Patients were evacuated from affected wards and access at A&E was restricted to those with life or limb-threatening conditions.

Dean Wedge's 86-year-old mother was one of the patients evacuated from a ward, having undergone a procedure on Saturday.

Wedge said he had seen his mother since, adding that she had been "very panicked" at the time.

"She can't really walk, so obviously she needed aid and assistance to move her.

"I think it was just a case of trying to get everybody out as quickly as possible and away from any danger."

"Everybody was moved extremely quickly and obviously professionally."

He said there was "literally just beds everywhere" in the other parts of the hospital.

"Just corridors after corridor with beds," he said. "It looks like something out of a war zone that you see on TV but everybody's doing what they can for them.

"I can see that they're all doing a wonderful job in there."

Chief medical officer Paul Grundy said the hospital would have to "massively curtail" both in and out-patient activity in the coming days.

"The fire has caused significant damage to part of the hospital site, which will have a knock-on effect in the immediate coming days in relation to some outpatient appointments.

"All appointments today have been cancelled and patients should wait to hear from us directly," a statement said.

Posting on social media, Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test, said: "Huge thanks to our incredible emergency services for containing the situation.

"You are all incredible."

Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis said: "Thankfully no-one was injured, all patients have been safely relocated and the fire was contained quickly.

"As ever, thank you to our incredible emergency services for their swift response."

• The emergency department is still receiving patients from the immediate vicinity whose condition is deemed life or limb-threatening.

• Anyone else needing urgent treatment should utilise the urgent treatment centres at the Royal South Hants hospital in Southampton and Lymington, visit local pharmacies or call 111.

• All appointments on Sunday have been cancelled and patients should wait to hear from the hospital directly.

• Refrain from calling, unless urgent, as the hospital's phone lines are exceptionally busy.

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