Emergency Fire Cleaning Allows Hospital to Resume Critical Treatment and Training

In June 2026, a Glasgow hospital was severely damaged when a battery-operated device set fire to a nearby mattress. The blaze spread through two wards, leaving catastrophic fire damage that required professional waste removal, intensive deep cleaning and a full sanitisation of the area.

As the hospital provides critical mental health support for the local area, and is the key training facility for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s lifting and handling exercises, a rapid reopening was imperative.

After a short investigation by Police Scotland and Scotland Fire and Rescue, a facilities management company working with the NHS requested a comprehensive fire damage remediation service be carried out, which was undertaken by Rentokil Specialist Hygiene. With speed of service paramount, our RSPH-accredited colleagues were on-site within 24 hours to conduct a thorough site survey and comprehensive risk assessment, ensuring all subsequent work procedures were fully aligned with NHS safety standards. Our team of industry-trained experts then began implementing a structured, fast-tracked recovery plan.

Operating under continuous oversight from our management team, dedicated teams of five expert technicians worked Monday to Friday to systematically clear, deep clean and disinfect both training wards from top-to-bottom.

This began with the removal of irrecoverable items, including fire-damaged ceiling tiles, blinds, bedding, hoist chairs and cabinets, which were removed, collected in roll-on roll-off skips and legally disposed of in accordance with environmental waste regulations. Our methodical top-down cleaning process utilised specialist equipment including heavy-duty vacuum cleaners, a mobile scaffolding tower and high-grade cleaning chemicals, to eradicate all fire damage residue from structural surfaces, fixtures and equipment, inclusive of ceilings, walls, windows and cabinetry. Finally, our RSPH-accredited technicians carried out an intensive deep clean of all carpeting, bringing the wards’ soft furnishings back to life.

Through our specialist hygiene expertise and large-scale logistical capability, Rentokil Specialist Hygiene successfully remediated and handed back both hospital wards within 10 days of receiving the initial enquiry.

Our NHS facilities management partner commended our quick turnaround, operational efficiency and transparent daily communication. Our rigorous decontamination processes ensured the affected areas were hygienically safe and fully compliant with HIS IPC Standard 8. With both wards immediately ready for redecoration and imminent reopening, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were able to resume their vital treatment and training with limited disruption.

Crucially, by removing all soot and ash, which is hazardous to both patients and employees, our technicians have ensured compliance with COSHH 2002 regulations and enabled the hospital to once again safely use their air ventilation systems, which had been temporarily suspended in accordance with NHS Scotland’s SHTM 03-01 regarding fire-damaged premises.

Rentokil Specialist Hygiene are proud to have deployed our rapid-response capability to help the hospital continue supporting the people of Greater Glasgow with minimal interruption.