Guernsey patients had to move ward after Southampton Hospital fire

Several patients from Guernsey had to be moved after a fire at Southampton Hospital, the States has revealed.

A spokesperson said a “small number of patients” had “experienced disruption due to the fire, including being evacuated to a different ward or area”.

Others had “inpatient or outpatient appointments cancelled”, the spokesperson said.

The States said it was working with its “colleagues in Southampton to re-schedule appointments”.

“There have been no acute care emergencies today requiring transfer to Southampton,” the States added.

Initially Dermot Mullin, the Director of Operations for Health and Social Care, had said that there was “no indication that any Bailiwick patients currently receiving care at Southampton have been affected”.

He had confirmed that some patients would have their appointments cancelled as a result of the impact of the fire, however.

‘Commotion and chaos’

A family staying at one of the flats owned by the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation said they could smell the fire, after it broke out early on Sunday morning.

PPBF Founder Jo Priaulx told Express “thankfully there was no impact and no one (staying in the PPBF flats) was hurt” but there “was a lot of commotion and chaos”.

“[The hospital] needed to re-bed around 200 patients, which they finally managed by around 8pm,” added Mrs Priaulx. “There were beds and patients absolutely everywhere.”

The flats owned by the PPBF are on the doorstep of Southampton Hospital. They are used by families of infants or children needing medical treatment.