Hospital building evacuated after staff inhale fumes from maintenance work
Three hospital workers were given treatment after inadvertently inhaling fumes from adhesive being used to carry out repairs.
Around 30 people were evacuated from a building in the grounds of Sutton Cottage Hospital, in Birmingham Road, in Sutton Coldfield, during the incident.
Emergency crews were called to the grounds on Tuesday afternoon after reports that staff were feeling unwell shortly before 2pm.
The road was closed and an evacuation operation put in place.
Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the site, used for outpatient physiotherapy treatment and offices, said there had been "a minor incident with minimal disruption".
"Some maintenance workers were using an adhesive on the external drainage of Sutton Cottage Hospital.
"Some fumes from that adhesive appear to have been smelt inside via an open window. Someone attending a clinic complained of feeling unwell and so ambulance service called as a precaution and the building evacuated for about 20 minutes," the trust added.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "We were called to reports of three members of staff at Sutton Cottage Hospital feeling unwell after breathing in fumes from work that was ongoing near where they worked.
"An ambulance and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene after a call at 1.45pm. Three patients were assessed and were discharged on scene."
West Midlands Fire Service said: "We understand that three members of staff needed precautionary checks from the ambulance service, after having apparently breathed in fumes.
"Two fire engines attended, crewed by 10 firefighters from Sutton and Erdington fire stations. The first arrived three minutes after being mobilised."
The service said crews wearing breathing apparatus and using specialist gear were working to establish the full circumstances.
Meanwhile a cordon was set up as a precautionary measure.
