Buses ferry injured to hospital
All London hospitals were on a major incident alert today as casualties flooded in from the explosions across the British capital.
Some of the injured were ferried to them on double-decker London buses.
Two deaths have been confirmed at Aldgate, but eyewitnesses reported seeing more bodies in the wreckage at some blast sites.
The Royal Free Hospital in north London said it had now received 54 casualties.
Ten of the patients had major injuries and others were suffering from minor injuries.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital said: “So far we have received eight patients, some critically injured and a number of walking wounded.
“Many of our specialist nursing staff are on hand to prepare for further casualties as they arrive.
“We are also freeing up beds within the hospitals to ensure that we are prepared for further casualties.”
St Marys Hospital, Paddington said it had received four critically injured patients, eight seriously hurt and 14 with minor injuries.
It could confirm no deaths and said it had treated no children.
The serious wounds at St Mary’s included lacerations and smoke inhalation.
“We are still taking more patients in but we cannot say how many more,” a spokeswoman said.
A spokeswoman for University College Hospital in central ondon, near the scene of the Russell Square bus blast, said: ‘We have started to receive casualties but we cannot say how many.'
BBC Radio 5 reporter Stephen Chittenden told listeners shortly before 11.30am that a convoy of four London buses had arrived at the Royal London Hospital near Liverpool Street Station.
He said passengers on them were taken to the hospital accident and emergency department.
“On the bottom of three of the buses were people with blackened faces looking very very distressed. The last bus was full.”
He said nurses were waiting for the injured with trolleys and chairs.
And he told listeners that he had seen another ambulance arrive containing “two very seriously injured looking people”.
He estimated that 60 or 70 people with blackened faces had arrived at the hospital this morning.
London Ambulance Service said it was currently only sending ambulances to patients across the capital with life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
The service said in a statement: “We were called at 8.51 this morning to reports of an incident at Liverpool Street station.
“Since the original call, further reports of incidents in central London have been received and numerous London Ambulance Service resources have been deployed.
“Working with the other emergency services, we are doing all we can to get casualties to safety and ensure they get the medical help they need as quickly as possible.
“Due to current levels of demand, we will, until further notice, only be sending ambulances to patients across the capital with life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
“As an example, this is people who have difficulty in breathing or persistent chest pains; those who have stopped breathing; or who have received traumatic injuries. This will enable us to focus on treating the large numbers of casualties at the scene.
“We would urge callers with minor injuries or illnesses to think about using other healthcare options, for example visit their local pharmacist or walk-in centre, or call NHS Direct for advice.
“If people need to go to hospital, they should use other modes of transport - call a taxi or get a lift with a friend or family member.”
