Four fire crews from Hightown, Eastleigh, Cosham, and Redbridge, along with a specialist support vehicle from Romsey, responded swiftly to Southampton General Hospital on Friday afternoon. The alarm was raised just before 2:45pm following a chemical spillage at the Tremona Road site that released toxic fumes.
The incident involved two chemicals reacting to form a corrosive substance, which produced hazardous fumes. One hospital worker sustained minor injuries after being splashed by the chemicals reacting with a substance on the floor. She received prompt treatment in the hospital’s Accident & Emergency department.
Witnesses reported that firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered a sealed-off section of the building to manage the situation. Security personnel actively prevented staff and visitors from accessing the affected area to ensure safety.
Despite the emergency, hospital services remained unaffected. Fire crews continued to manage the spillage on site. There were no serious injuries reported, and no patients were involved in the incident.
A spokesperson for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust stated: “Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Hazardous Area Response Team at South Central Ambulance Service were called to Southampton General Hospital earlier today following the identification of a small chemical leak in a secured waste store. Although the area is not accessible to patients and visitors, a corridor on the hospital’s west wing was closed and monitored by security for a short period while the incident was investigated. As a precaution, outpatients in a nearby waiting room were redirected to another location prior to their appointments. All clinic appointments went ahead as usual. Following advice from the fire service and hazardous response team on how to clean and ventilate the area, the incident was resolved with no disruption to services.”
A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman added that multiple appliances remain at the scene. Officers are working closely with hospital staff to secure a safe resolution.
Originally published by UKNIP.
