London hospital blaze probe begins

The investigation into what caused a devastating fire at the world famous Royal Marsden Hospital will begin in earnest today as patients continue to receive treatment elsewhere.

Firefighters worked through the night to ensure the blaze was completely out and were expected to hand back control of the hospital in Fulham Road, central London, this morning.

It was hoped a section of the building could be opened today for patients and staff to ensure continuity of care, but the rest of the site was to remain closed.

Investigators from the fire service will now seek to establish how the blaze started yesterday afternoon, amid rumours building work could have been involved.

The hospital, which is Europe’s largest comprehensive cancer centre, has confirmed a number of works were being carried out but said it was far too early to say if there was any link.

It said in a statement last night: “Investigations into the cause of the fire and its starting point are still ongoing and there will be no further comment until that is complete.”

London Fire Brigade has already said there has so far been nothing to suggest foul play or that the fire was anything other than accidental.

Assistant commissioner David Brown said yesterday: “A plant room has been involved in the fire but it is too early to say exactly where the fire started.”

Hundreds of cancer patients and staff had to be evacuated after the fire broke out yesterday lunchtime and 125 firefighters and 25 fire engines were sent to tackle the flames.

Ambulances were ranked up in the street as police officers, hospital staff and paramedics rushed to empty the building as the scale of the emergency became clear.

Operations on two patients who were in surgery at the time had to be cut short and six people in intensive care were among the 79 in-patients moved to other hospitals. Around 800 staff were also evacuated.

In Dovehouse Street, several patients were laid in an ambulance area on mattresses and attended to by nurses who were covering them with extra blankets.

Other patients were seen being led to safety wrapped in blankets and in wheelchairs and at least one elderly patient had to be carried across the road by a policeman.

Despite the smoke and flames billowing from the roof, no-one was injured, although two members of the public and two members of staff were treated for smoke inhalation.

Out-patients were taken to the nearby church of St Paul in Onslow Square before being admitted to other hospitals or allowed to go home.

The evacuation was eventually completed within two hours and despite its frantic nature, patients spoke of the calmness of the staff as they shepherded everyone to safety.

Carole Williams, 55, said: “I was in bed when the fire alarm went off. I could smell smoke, and we were told to get out.”

Standing in the street in her dressing gown and slippers, the mother of four, who has cancer and kidney problems, added: “There was no panic whatsoever.”

Colin Bishop, an out-patient who was waiting to have his first chemotherapy session for throat cancer, said: “There was smoke and it was coming through the ward.

“It became apparent it was not a little fire, but they kept it quite calm.”

Aerial footage showed the entire top section of the Victorian hospital had been totally destroyed by the fire, leaving only its charred shell remaining.

Its chief executive Cally Palmer said last night: “We’re still trying to assess the extent of the damage the fire has caused but it has mainly affected one part of the building.

“Five operating theatres and at least two wards are very badly affected.”

Specialist teams from the Royal Marsden were having to work from neighbouring hospitals, including the Royal Brompton, which admitted 54 patients, although Ms Palmer said some treatments would be difficult to carry out elsewhere.

She added: “I am hoping we can get back to full operations sooner rather than later.”

The hospital was the first in the world dedicated to the study and treatment of cancer and sees more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad each year.

Professor Ray Powles, former head of haematooncology, said valuable research material would not be lost as there is a second site in Sutton but added that the loss of the hospital would be a “huge, huge step” back for cancer treatment.

Dr Peter Blake, who works in radiotherapy and was in the administrative part of the building when the fire started, said it was likely to cause substantial damage.

He said: “Financially, it’s a disaster.”

The Royal Marsden helpline numbers for patients and relatives are: 0208 770 9395, 0208 661 3836, 0208 661 3839 and 0208 770 9683.