Latest news with #maternityhospital
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Faulty solar panel blamed for maternity hospital fire
The fire service has blamed faulty solar panels for a blaze at a maternity hospital in Bristol. Pregnant women and babies were evacuated from St Michael's Hospital on Southwell Street in the city centre on Thursday afternoon. Footage shared on social media showed women cradling babies being escorted past fire engines and under police tape to buildings opposite as smoke billowed above the city. Avon Fire & Rescue Services' fire investigation team said the cause of the fire, which has now been extinguished, had been faulty solar panels. The roof of the hospital has one of Bristol city centre's largest solar panel installations, unveiled in 2014 and delivered in partnership with the council. Ian Fergusson , a BBC forecaster, shared a still image yesterday from a skycam showing the scorched remains of the hospital's rooftop solar panels. He said there was 'virtually nothing left of the rooftop solar panel array after this fire', adding: 'A very worrying and scary event for folks at the maternity hospital.' Matt Burden, from Weston-super-Mare, was inside the maternity unit when the fire started. He told the BBC that his wife was in labour with their third baby and he was 'really eager to get back' to her. He said: 'I went out to get some food, came back and obviously the alarm went off. They said all partners had to leave. Everyone was going down the fire exit quite fast.' A spokesman for Avon Fire & Rescue Services said on Friday: 'Following a fire in a hospital on Southwell Street, Bristol, yesterday evening (22 May 2025), Avon Fire & Rescue Services' Fire Investigation Team have established the cause of the fire to be accidental due to a fault in the solar panels, on the roof of the building. 'Firefighters safely extinguished the fire on the roof and no other part of the hospital was affected by the fire.' Prof Stuart Walker, the hospital managing director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Following a fire on the roof of St Michael's Hospital yesterday afternoon, we can confirm the hospital is open and services are running. 'A very small number of planned appointments have been rescheduled. Those affected by this have been contacted directly. If you have an appointment, please attend it unless you hear from us. The hospital remains open to those who need access to our services, including the delivery suite. 'Thank you to our amazing colleagues, emergency services and local partners for their efforts yesterday to help keep our patients and their loved ones safe.'
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Firefighters called to blaze at Bristol maternity hospital
Firefighters have been called to a maternity hospital in Bristol after a blaze broke out. Emergency services were called to the scene at St Michael's hospital at about 4.30pm on Thursday. Pregnant women were removed from the site, according to reports, but the hospital had reopened by 7pm. The fire was extinguished within less than an hour, and the cause would be investigated, Avon fire and rescue service said. People have been urged to avoid the area. Avon fire and rescue service posted on Facebook saying: 'We're currently responding to a fire on Southwell Street, Bristol. We encourage people to avoid the area while we deal with the incident. Further updates will be issued.' The post was later updated to say: 'We can confirm that the fire has safely been extinguished. The cause of the fire will be investigated.' A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: 'Police are supporting Avon fire and rescue colleagues at the scene of a fire at St Michael's hospital in Bristol, which was reported at about 4.30pm on Thursday 22 May. 'St Michael's Hill is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and people are urged to avoid the area if at all possible.' Prof Stuart Walker, the hospital managing director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS foundation trust, said: 'Following a fire incident at St Michael's hospital this afternoon, we can confirm that the fire has safely been extinguished. 'Thank you to our amazing staff who worked closely with the fire service to partially evacuate the hospital. The hospital, including the delivery suite, has now reopened to women who need to access our services and people with appointments tomorrow should attend as planned.'
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Builder picked for new WA maternity hospital enters voluntary administration
One of the joint venture partners chosen to build Perth's new maternity hospital has entered voluntary administration after months of uncertainty, but the Western Australian government is adamant the project remains on track. Global management firm FTI Consulting has been appointed to examine the financial position of builder Roberts Co and its parent entity, RCAH Group. Roberts Co was chosen alongside European construction giant Webuild as joint venture partners for the hospital in December 2024, tasked with building a replacement for the ageing King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH). The government wants the $1.8 billion Women and Babies Hospital to be co-located with Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) in Murdoch. But RCAH Group was recently wound down, with its New South Wales arm sold to a Middle East developer. The Victorian arm of the business entered administration in March, while the WA branch followed suit last week. Construction of the hospital had been due to begin later this year, but the loss of Roberts Co is likely to force the government into searching for a new builder to partner Webuild, which has a 70 per cent stake in the project. Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey, who confirmed the departure of Roberts Co from the project, has indicated that process is already underway. "The procurement process and engagement with Webuild continues to progress well and the Government will make some important announcements soon," Mr Carey said in a statement. In a statement, FTI Consulting confirmed Roberts Co had also sold its WA business interests, and administrators would examine those transactions before it reports to creditors. "We are aware there is interest from stakeholders of the business to propose a deed of company arrangement (DOCA) with the view of providing a better return to creditors in a timely manner, which will be considered in due course," the statement said. The state government announced the hospital project in April 2023, saying the facility would be built at FSH and would open its doors by 2029. That raised concerns among clinicians about travel distances between the new campus and Perth Children's Hospital, with KEMH's former head of anaesthesia Tim Pavy claiming lives would be at risk. The then-WA health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson downplayed those fears, saying the hospital would include improved neo-natal facilities. The Liberals entered the state election also criticising the plan and claiming babies would die as a result, saying they would build the hospital on a car park site at QEII in Nedlands. The Australian Medical Association WA said it wanted maternity, paediatric and adult medical services to be "tri-located" at one site. Roberts Co is also the builder behind luxury Scarborough apartment complex The Dunes Beachfront.
