Fire causes 'significant damage' to part of Southampton General Hospital
No one was injured but a major incident was declared early this morning
Last updated 1st Feb 2026
The organisation in charge of Southampton General Hospital says a fire in the endoscopy unit has caused 'significant damage'.
A major incident was declared after the alarm was raised at around 5.30am this morning (Sunday 1st February 2026).
110 firefighters from stations across Hampshire were called to the site to help.
Patients and ambulances are being diverted elsewhere - and visitors are being urged to stay away from the site.
A spokesperson for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said:
"We evacuated approximately 200 patients from the affected area of the hospital who are currently being cared for in others areas, including in corridors.
"No patients or staff were injured in the fire.
"We understand news of the fire and subsequent evacuation will cause anxiety for relatives keen to find out how their loved ones are and where they are now situated within the hospital.
"We are working hard to utilise all available space and move patients into other wards and departments where possible.
"Our telephone lines are exceptionally busy and would ask people to bear with us and refrain from calling unless urgent.
"Our Emergency Department is still receiving patients from the immediate vicinity whose condition is deemed life or limb threatening but asking anyone needing urgent treatment to go elsewhere and utilise the Urgent Treatment Centres at the Royal South Hants hospital in Southampton and Lymington, visit local pharmacies or call and take advice from 111.
"The fire has caused significant damage to part of the hospital site which will have a knock-on effect in the immediate coming days in relation to some outpatient appointments. All appointments today have been cancelled and patients should wait to hear from us directly.
"We are asking visitors to stay away from Southampton General Hospital today as we continue to respond to the incident."
In a post on Facebook, Southampton Test Labour MP Satvir Kaur said: "Huge thanks to our incredible emergency services for containing the situation.
"You are all incredible."
MPs have also been posting on social media about the major incident.
In an updated statement, a spokesperson for Southampton General Hospital said:
“We would like to thank our staff, healthcare partners and community for how they have responded to the major incident we declared earlier today following a fire at Southampton General Hospital.
“As part of the emergency response, our staff moved more than 200 patients to other areas of our hospital where they are being cared for. Our focus continues to be safe patient care and moving them to other wards and departments across our site.
“We have identified a number of patients who are able to be discharged today and families are being contacted to make suitable arrangements for their collection.
“The impact of the fire has been significant and will limit our ability to fulfil all planned activity tomorrow.
“This means that some operations will have to be cancelled and we will be contacting all patients affected to make them aware, by telephone, email or text today.
“Anyone with an outpatient appointment tomorrow is asked to attend as planned, unless they hear directly from us today (Sunday).”