A patient at a hospital in Tameside has reported how smoke from devastating moor fires that have raged for weeks poured into hospital wards, leaving patients in horrendous conditions.
Crews have been tackling the fire near Dovestone Reservoir in Greenfield, Oldham, since last Saturday, with a nearby area of moorland at Swineshaw also alight. The operation to contain another moorland blaze at Tintwistle is continuing into its fourth week, forcing the closure of the A628 Woodhead Pass until next week.
Patient's experience
On July 15, a 50-year-old patient from Tameside first began experiencing the impacts of the fire after she was transferred into a new ward. The patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported that those staying on the ward could see the smoke clearly from miles away and could smell it thick in the air.
Due to the amount of smoke seeping into the building, staff took the decision to close the windows. However, she says the outside air was pumping in through the air conditioning unit, still allowing the smoke to enter the ward. During this time, Greater Manchester was in the midst of an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching highs of over 29 degrees.
“There was no escape from it, it was honestly horrendous,” the patient said. “It was as though the fire may as well have been in the building, it was burning my throat and sitting on my chest.”
Impact on vulnerable patients
It was also reported that a woman in her 90s on the ward was continuously coughing throughout the night, something the patient also noted the nurses were suffering from. The patient said she could smell the smoke in the air throughout her stay, which lasted around three to four days.
The 50-year-old told the Manchester Evening News that she suffers from COPD, a progressive, long-term lung disease that can cause significant breathing difficulties. At one point, she decided to cover under a blanket to shield from the smoke and was reliant on a small fan to keep her cool.
As staff decided to turn off air-conditioning and shut windows, patients reported feeling extremely hot. She described the situation as being “cooped up like chickens in a boiling hot room.”
There were also reports of patients on the ward experiencing extreme headaches, something she believes was due to prolonged smoke inhalation. She said: “We all had horrific headaches too, I’ve honestly never experienced pain like it. It was lethal.”
Concern for maternity ward
The 50-year-old said she was on the fifth floor, just above the maternity ward, and expressed great concern for newborn babies just below. She said: “I just can’t imagine what those little babies are going through. And their poor mums, especially in this heat.”
A Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment on specific cases, however, the Trust follows guidance from the Health Security Agency during periods of wildfires. This includes closing windows to limit smoke exposure to help protect the health of our patients.”
