Hospital evacuated following ‘bomb threat’

Staff and patients were evacuated from the Royal Alexandra Hospital yesterday following a bomb threat at the site.

Police raced to the Paisley hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning and a number of people were escorted from the building following a threatening phone call.

It’s understood the caller made threats in relation to a bomb, forcing health bosses to alert emergency services to attend.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said patients waiting at the busy hospital’s Emergency Department ( ED) were evacuated to other areas in the hospital and all incoming patients were diverted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, in Glasgow, while the incident was ongoing.

It is understood they were allowed back into the building a short time later once it had been established there was no credible threat.

A Po l i c e S c o t l a n d spokeswoman said: “Officers attended at the Royal Alexandra Hospital around 12.20am on Thursday, May 6 following threatening communication which was received by staff at the hospital.

“Staff and patients were evacuated from the premises for a short period of time but were allowed access once officers ensured it was safe to do so.

“Enquiries are ongoing.” A spokesman for the health board said: “A malicious call was made to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in the early hours of Thursday.

“Staff worked with Police Scotland to secure the site and emergency admissions were briefly diverted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

“Patients within the Emergency Department were evacuated and looked after in other parts of the hospital.

“The rest of the hospital remained operational at all times.