EQUIPMENT stored in the corridors at Basingstoke hospital is creating a fire hazard, the fire service has said.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service visited the hospital, in Aldermaston Road, and raised concerns about equipment in corridors and outside lifts which could impact an evacuation of the hospital during an emergency.

Read more: Hospital trust providing 'poor experience' for patients with hearing impairment

A report to Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on the issue said: “This issue is both a fire hazard and could impact on the safe evacuation of staff and patients in an emergency.”

The trust, which runs Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals, said its evacuation routes should be ‘sterile’.

It has now set up a new working group of key staff from across the trust to resolve the issue and said: “The responsibility for safe storage of resources and equipment and keeping emergency routes and exits clear sits with all staff.”

Read more: Basingstoke supermarket runs out of baskets after customers keep stealing them 

The trust reported that seven per cent of recent health and safety incidents were slips, trips or falls which it said are “often avoidable if routes are kept clear and spillages cleaned up promptly”.

A poster has been designed to support staff in keeping hospital corridors safe and is available for staff to download to put up in the corridors at both Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Following a recent scheduled audit by the fire service to our Basingstoke hospital, possible issues were identified due to equipment being stored in corridors. We have since taken steps to ensure the safer storage of resources and equipment at all sites.”