Critical Incident at Bristol Royal Infirmary: Power Cut and Fire Lead to Evacuation and Delays

The Bristol Royal Infirmary was plunged into chaos as a power cut and fire forced the evacuation of the hospital, with a critical incident declared. Patients described the harrowing experience of being in the dark before being told to leave the building.

Emergency generators were used to power essential areas of the hospital, but some departments remained without power. The adult accident and emergency department was reopened to urgent walk-in patients later in the evening.

Dr. Rebecca Maxwell, Interim chief medical officer at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, reassured the public that measures were in place to ensure patient safety and care during the crisis. The neighboring children’s hospital and oncology department were reportedly unaffected by the incident.

Multiple fire crews were dispatched to the scene to assist with the situation. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they were investigating a suspected electrical fault at the hospital.

The incident also affected Bristol University, which experienced a power outage causing IT issues across their campus. Despite the challenges, hospital staff worked diligently to manage emergency cases and divert surgeries to other facilities.

As the situation unfolded, road closures were put in place around the hospital, but were later reopened as the immediate threat subsided. The community rallied together to support the hospital and its patients during this challenging time.