HOSPITAL chiefs say it was a spillage of hydrogen peroxide that prompted the dramatic temporary closure of Corbett Outpatients Centre in Stourbridge last week.

Fire crews, police and paramedics rushed to the Vicarage Road hospital just after 11am last Thursday (February 13) after a chemical leak was reported.

The site was temporarily closed and clinics postponed while firefighters worked to contain the spillage which hospital bosses say happened in a "secure, temperature controlled cabinet".

West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics assessed 10 people "who were showing symptoms relating to the incident" - nine of whom were discharged at the scene, while the tenth, a woman, was taken to Russells Hall Hospital as a precaution and was discharged the same day.

Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our staff followed all the appropriate procedures and evacuated staff and patients in that area affected. There was no risk to the public."

She confirmed the spilled liquid was hydrogen peroxide which she said "is used for cleaning and sterilising scopes" and which can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing and breathing difficulties if inhaled.

She added: "The Trust followed its incident response process which will include a debrief among staff involved. The manufacturer of the chemical that leaked has been contacted."

The hospital re-opened as normal on Friday February 14.