A major incident was declared for regional health services on February 1, 2026, after a fire at University Hospital Southampton caused widespread disruption for people in Fleet, Hampshire. The fire started in the hospital’s West Wing, leading to smoke damage and power outages that have forced staff to cancel surgeries and send emergency patients to other hospitals.
Because of the strain on the health network, residents in Fleet are being asked to only visit an emergency department if they have a life-threatening condition. Patients from the area who need urgent care are currently being redirected to facilities in Basingstoke or Frimley Park while the hospital works to repair its damaged systems.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service put out the blaze in six hours, but the damage to electrical wires and oxygen supplies means several wards remain closed. Local health leaders are advising people to use the NHS 111 online service first to help take the pressure off local clinics and GP surgeries.
The hospital is still running on a limited basis as engineers work to restore power to operating rooms and critical care areas. An investigation into the cause is currently taking place, with early signs suggesting an electrical fault in a plant room was responsible for the fire.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
