Fire at overcrowded CUH emergency department is a 'serious warning signal' 

CUH described it as a small fire, and thanked its staff, the National Ambulance Service, and Cork City Fire Brigade for their quick response

CUH described it as a small fire, and thanked its staff, the National Ambulance Service, and Cork City Fire Brigade for their quick response. Picture: Larry Cummins

A fire in Cork University Hospital’s (CUH) overcrowded emergency department (ED) has been described as “a serious warning signal” to the Government about the need to solve the overcrowding crisis.

Several patients had to be evacuated to a secure area, as the ED filled with smoke just after lunchtime.