Guy’s Hospital in London evacuated after people inhale chlorine gas in chemical incident

A major hospital in central London has been evacuated after a chemical incident this morning.

The incident occurred in a non-patient area of Guy’s Hospital, opposite London Bridge railway station, just before 8.50am.

The hospital told Metro that a staff member was injured and people who came to the aid of the worker were treated for chlorine gas inhalation, which can cause chest pain and nausea.

The gas was released after chemicals were mixed inside a plant room, which typically contains machinery like generators or boilers.

Around 150 people were evacuated from the hospital’s basement and ground floor, with photographs shared with Metro showing dozens of people packed along St Thomas Street.

Social media video captured firefighters leading patients out of the Bermondsey Wing, which houses the Older Persons Assessment Unit.

An anonymous witness told Metro they were having a meeting inside when the alarm began to blare.

‘I was surprised and unsure what was happening,’ they said, ‘very surreal.’

They added that staff and patients were allowed back into the hospital around 11am.

‘It was apparently a chemical spillage or explosion in the basement,’ they said.

The fire brigade said in a report that the incident involved ‘hazardous materials’.

The brigade added: ‘Firefighters responded to reports of a chemical incident at Guy’s Hospital.

‘…Crews carried out operations to ventilate the building and supported the precautionary evacuation of the basement and ground floor levels of the hospital.

‘The incident was over for firefighters by 11.09am.’

Guy’s and St Thomas’ told Metro: ‘The London Fire Brigade attended a chemical incident in a non-patient area of Guy’s Hospital today.

‘One staff member was injured and several people, who came to the aid of the person, were treated for the inhalation of chlorine gas.

‘The site has now reopened and people should attend their appointments unless they are contacted by us directly.’

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