This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6528267.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hospital closed by chemical fumes Hospital closed by chemical fumes
(about 1 hour later)
A major London hospital has been partially closed after medical staff fell ill at the site. A major London hospital was partially closed after eight members of staff fell ill at the site.
Accident and emergency at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, was closed while lower parts of the site were evacuated.Accident and emergency at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, was closed while lower parts of the site were evacuated.
Emergency services were called to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon after staff noticed an unusual smell.Emergency services were called to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon after staff noticed an unusual smell.
Ambulances are being diverted to nearby hospitals while fire crews try to identify the cause of the smell. Ambulances were diverted to nearby hospitals while fire crews tried to identify the cause of the smell.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "We were alerted at about 4.55pm to reports of the smell of chemical fumes at the Royal Free Hospital. The hospital said some of the eight were given medical treatment.
"The source is yet to be identified and the fire service remains at the scene." "The trust has been working closely with London Fire Brigade's scientific support unit but no cause has been established and the fire service is preparing to withdraw," a statement added.
Ambulance crews had not treated any patients and were at the scene to support the hospital and fire brigade.