‘Smell’ Alert Closes Hospital A&E

A top London hospital has reopened after closing its accident and emergency department when staff were sent home ill after noticing an “unusual smell”. Eight members of staff received medical treatment and parts of the lower floors of the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, were evacuated.

The fire service was called in and A&E remained closed for six hours until normal service was resumed shortly after midnight. It is not known what caused the staff to feel unwell or what their symptoms were.

A hospital statement said it had resumed all normal activities. It read: “Eight members of staff earlier reported feeling unwell after experiencing an unusual smell and some of these have required medical treatment.

“The trust has been working closely with London Fire Brigade’s scientific support unit but no cause has been established and the fire service has withdrawn. The A&E department was closed to ambulances for about six hours but has now reopened.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said two ambulances and the Hazardous Area Response Team were at the hospital on Wednesday night.