Mayday Hospital is open for business after a fire damaged the MRI suite and parts of the Woodcroft wing early yesterday morning.

Accident and emergency is now taking all patients, with the support of London ambulance and neighbouring trusts, and the maternity unit is operational.

All outpatients clinics are running and the majority of elective (planned) surgery is taking place.

Chief executive Nick Hulme says it was a real team effort. He said: “With the dedicated support of our staff, fire brigade, police, ambulance and our contractors we have managed this challenge.

“The clean-up operation still goes on and we ask patients to bear with us as some services have had to be relocated, but Mayday is back in action.”