Blunders at Watford General after a chemical spill have been revealed in a critical fire service report.

Herts Fire and Rescue this week shared what was recorded when a formal debrief session assessed its response to accidental mixing of cleaning fluids at the hospital on January 26, 2023.

People were taken to A&E while the immediate area around the maternity unit was evacuated and cordoned off, with several fire crews and police called to the scene.

The report, shared after a Freedom of Information request, included nine “observations/learning points” including “a lack of communication, planning, and engagement by Watford General”. The comment on this point added that this would be discussed with the hospital, which has been done.

They also discussed how different information was given to the initial officer in charge by an “erratic responsible person”, which “clashed with information that was given to fire control”.

The document said the decision was made to commit crews into the contaminated area wearing only BA (breathing apparatus), and that “BA crews broke their seals on exiting the building without considerations of what potential chemical they could have been contaminated with”.

A fire engine was apparently too close to the entry point, which had an impact on the hazmat zoning of the incident. A lack of informative messages, time stamping, and logging of key events was also found.

(Image: UGC)

Assistant chief fire officer Mark Barber said: “We’re always looking for ways to improve how we respond to emergencies, and learning from incidents we attend is an important part of that.

“That’s why we routinely carry out formal debriefs after significant incidents to help us identify what we did well and where there might be opportunities to improve our response.

“The debrief after the chemical spill at Watford General Hospital in January, 2023, did highlight some ways that we could respond to similar incidents more safely and effectively in the future.

"We’ve taken these lessons on board and incorporated them into the ongoing training our firefighters receive.”

A West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokesperson added: “We worked very closely with Herts Fire and Rescue Service and Herts Police colleagues to minimise the impact for patients and staff of a chemical spill which occurred at Watford General Hospital in January 2023.

“We continue to work with and learn from partners to better manage our response to fast moving incidents.”

Got a story? Email fintan.mcguinness@newsquest.co.uk