Published February 28, 2025 7:04am
Updated February 28, 2025 7:42am
An investigation has been launched after reports of an ‘unknown chemical’ sparked the evacuation of a London hospital.
The unknown chemical was smelled in Newham General Hospital’s A&E department around 8pm yesterday.
Specialist units, fire crews, police and ambulance services rushed to the hospital to help find the source and evacuate crowds.
Patients and staff inside of the hospital were moved to different parts of the building to limit exposure to the chemical.
A spokesperson from Newham Hospital Trust said: ‘The safety of our patients and staff is our priority. We are working closely with emergency services to establish the cause of the incident.
‘We appreciate the public’s patience and will provide further updates in due course.’
Metro have contacted the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service for comment.
What to do in a chemical attack
Remove yourself from the immediate area to avoid further exposure to the substance. Fresh air is important. If the skin is itchy or painful, find a water source. Report to the emergency services.
Remove your outer clothing if affected by the substance. Try to avoid pulling clothing over your head if possible. Do not smoke, eat or drink. Do not pull off clothing stuck to skin.
Remove the substance from your skin using a dry absorbent material to either soak it up or brush it off. Rinse continually with water if the skin is itchy or painful.
The leak came after it was revealed that NHS buildings across the country were ‘in a very bad way and getting worse’, with the government being warned that patients ‘deserve better’.
An investigation by the Liberal Democrats found evidence of chemical leaks in patient areas at a number of hospitals in England, as well as broken fire alarms in some facilities.
In 2019, a female worker was stabbed repeatedly with a pair of scissors inside Newham University Hospital A&E.
A male suspect was arrested on suspicion of GBH at the scene.
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