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Stafford Hospital A&E unit evacuated due to fire Stafford Hospital A&E unit evacuated due to fire
(about 1 hour later)
Stafford Hospital's accident and emergency department has been evacuated after a fire. Stafford Hospital's accident and emergency department has been evacuated and ambulances diverted after a fire.
Emergency services were called to the site in Weston Road at 09:45 BST after the fire started in an extractor fan on an outside wall of the casualty unit.Emergency services were called to the site in Weston Road at 09:45 BST after the fire started in an extractor fan on an outside wall of the casualty unit.
It had been put out by 11:45 BST, but West Midlands Ambulance Service said the unit was not expected to open until 13:00 BST. Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals and patients were asked to use accident and emergency departments elsewhere.
Three ambulances were diverted to a nearby medical assessment unit. Five ambulances were at the hospital when the fire started.
Doctors assessed the patients on the back of the vehicles. Three were taken straight to wards, but two had to be transferred to University Hospital North Staffordshire.
The fire had been put out by 11:45 BST and hospital staff originally said they hoped to reopen it at 13:00 BST, but it remains closed.
Ambulance crews have been treating some patients at home and transferring others to hospitals including New Cross, Burton and Walsall.
Fire crews from Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent have been on the scene ventilating the building and carrying out checks.Fire crews from Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent have been on the scene ventilating the building and carrying out checks.