Cancer treatment postponed after massive hospital blaze

London: Hundreds of cancer patients had their treatment postponed on Thursday after fire ripped through the Royal Marsden hospital in Chelsea causing an estimated £500 million (Dh3.6 billion) of damage.

People undergoing surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the world-famous cancer hospital are to be treated in other city trusts or sent to the Marsden's second location in Sutton.

All Thursday's appointments and admissions have been cancelled after flames wrecked most of the fourth floor and roof on Wednesday afternoon. Up to a hundred people were due to arrive on Thursday but they were told to stay away until medics get in touch.

The blaze was brought under control by 8pm local time on Wednesday and fire investigators begun an investigation yesterday morning, as 30 firefighters were still working to dampen hotspots in the roof at the Fulham Road trust.

Fire chiefs said the fire did not appear to be arson and chief executive Cally Palmer refused to comment on suggestions building work may have been to blame.

Redirect

Palmer was planning to open part of the hospital at 8am yesterday to redirect anyone who arrived expecting treatment.

A hospital spokesman also insisted sections could reopen within three days, seeing outpatients for chemotherapy.

At least 54 patients — including two who were on operating tables when the fire broke out — were evacuated to the Royal Brompton, across the road.

Hospital bosses urged patients to call helplines to advise those due in for treatment and to reassure relatives.

Early reports suggested at least one of the hospital's five operating theatres and two wards were severely damaged by water and smoke damage.

But insiders fear the thousands of litres of water used to drench the 10ft high flames may have harmed vital and expensive equipment such as radiotherapy machines in the basement.

Professor Michael Brada, 57, who treats patients with brain and lung tumours at the Marsden, said: “The fire was very serious and has potentially far-reaching consequences.''

Setback

London firefighters worked overnight to extinguish the last embers of a fire that tore across upper floors of the country's leading cancer hospital, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Hundreds of cancer patients and staff were evacuated after a fire broke out at the Royal Marsden hospital at midday on Wednesday, officials said. No one was injured.

Fire officials were investigating the cause of the blaze yesterday, after a team of 125 firefighters backed by 25 fire engines put out the fire, London Fire Brigade spokesman Graham Howgate said.

"The main fire area was contained to the roof," he said, adding it was too soon to speculate on what caused the fire, but that arson was not suspected.

The lights were on in most of the building yesterday morning as 50 firefighters assessed the damage and pumped water out of the building.

The hospital's chief executive, Cally Palmer, said the full impact of the fire was not yet known.

AP