Portsmouth Patients Face Months Of Delays After Hospital Fire

Health leaders have warned that people in Portsmouth, Hampshire, will face months of pressure and potential delays at local hospitals following a major fire at Southampton General Hospital on 1 February 2026. University Hospital Southampton (UHS) has since reopened its Emergency Department, but the blaze completely gutted the hospital’s endoscopy unit, destroying specialist endoscopy equipment, and prompted a system‑wide major incident declaration by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service concluded the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the West Wing(E Level). UHS said a number of wards remain closed and around 200 bed spaces are currently unavailable.

Because of the damage, Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth is seeing increased demand as it helps absorb diverted patients. A spokesperson for Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, which runs Queen Alexandra, told The News the hospital is experiencing “high demand and disruption” while supporting services across Hampshire.

Dr Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, told the BBC that the loss of bed space will be felt well beyond Southampton. Health leaders have warned this is likely to mean longer waiting times and that some planned elective operations will be postponed as staff manage the reduced capacity.

Reports from ITV Meridian say health services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will face significant challenges for the foreseeable future. Public guidance from the Trusts has urged people to use NHS 111 (online or by phone), local urgent treatment centres and pharmacies where appropriate, and to attend emergency departments only for life‑ or limb‑threatening conditions while hospitals cope with the increased pressure.