PM in pledge on blaze-hit hospital

12 April 2012

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the Government will do everything it can to get the Royal Marsden Hospital up and running following a devastating blaze.

Mr Brown said the "last 24 hours have seen Britain at its best" as he praised hospital and emergency workers for their actions.

Part of the world-renowned cancer hospital was handed back to staff on Thursday morning after firefighters dampened down hot spots overnight.

Investigators have been working to find out exactly what caused the fire, which tore across the roof and upper floors of the building in Fulham Road, central London, on Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of cancer patients and staff had to be led to safety as 125 firefighters fought to tackle the flames.

Operations on two patients were also cut short when the fire took hold in a fourth-floor plant room.

Mr Brown arrived at the nearby Royal Brompton Hospital to visit some of the 42 patients currently being treated there after evacuation.

Afterwards, he told reporters the Government would do everything to get the Royal Marsden "up and running as quickly as possible".

He said: "The last 24 hours have seen Britain at its best. I have got nothing but praise for what has been done - saving lives, saving patients, saving the equipment."

He said the Government would "spare nothing" in trying to make sure patients were reassured about the future of the Royal Marsden. He added: "The rebuilding work will start immediately."

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