Guy’s Hospital evacuated after chemical incident

Firefighters evacuated patients and staff from Guy’s Hospital in Southwark after a suspected chemical incident and an explosion.

London hospital evacuates 150 after suspected chemical incident

Guy’s Hospital in Southwark was evacuated on Thursday after a suspected chemical incident and an explosion. Firefighters arrived just before 9am and began ventilating the building, with patients and staff moved from the basement and ground floor.

The London Fire Brigade said two engines, two Fire Rescue Units, a Command Unit and specialist hazardous materials officers attended. The first call came at 8.49am and crews remained on site until about 11.09am. Guy’s is a major elective centre with about 400 beds, and a number of people were taken to hospital for checks as a precaution while cordons were set and the building was ventilated. The incident is being treated as a chemical risk and is under investigation.

This incident tests how a busy urban hospital handles a sudden hazard. It highlights the need for clear crisis communication, strong on-site safety protocols, and rapid coordination between hospital staff, police and fire services. The disruption to routine services can ripple beyond the moment of the evacuation, affecting appointments and patient flow. As authorities review what happened, the focus will be on whether safety drills and hazmat readiness matched the scale of the response in this city core.

Highlights

Investigations are expected to assess safety procedures and improve future crisis plans.