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 any potential exposure to the rumoured chemical.
A spokesperson from Newham Hospital Trust said: ‘We evacuated patients, families and staff from the paediatric A&E department to protect their safety following reports of an unusual smell.
‘We worked with emergency services to investigate the area, and by 10pm, the area was declared safe. No one was harmed during the incident.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We sent resources to the scene, including an incident response officer, a paramedic from our tactical response unit and members of our hazardous area response team (HART).
‘We responded alongside colleagues from London Fire Brigade but we were later stood down.’
What to do in a chemical attack
‘Remove, remove, remove’
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.
Last summer, a London leisure centre was evacuated after a chemical leak in the pool injured nine children and two adults.
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‘Excess chlorine’ was released at Vale Farm Sports Centre in Wembley.
Exposure to chlorine, which smells similar to bleach, can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, mouth and on the skin if even a small amount is inhaled.
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And in March 2024, a person was taken to hospital after a ‘gas or chemical leak’ at a research facility in Trafford Park, Manchester.
People in the local area were told to ‘close their windows’ after emergency officials said a they received reports of a chemical leak last spring, prompting hazardous materials specialists to respond to the scene.
In 2019, a female worker was stabbed repeatedly with a pair of scissors inside Newham University Hospital A&E.
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