A man has been detained under the Mental Health Act after a clinic room in the emergency department at Croydon University Hospital was destroyed in a suspected arson fire.

Police and paramedics were called shortly after the incident which occurred yesterday afternoon (March 5) and the 53-year-old man was detained.

The alarm was initially raised just before 3pm and 80 patients were evacuated to continue their care in other parts of the hospital. 

The brigade took five calls to the blaze at a building on London Road in Thornton Heath.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to the fire which was brought under control by 5.08pm.

A spokesperson for Croydon Heath Services NHS Trust said that the department was able to reopen today at 9.52am to resume full patient care as normal.

The fire was contained within the one clinic room and caused damage to a patient cubical, with smoke and soot affecting other areas of the department.

Teams at the hospital “worked throughout the night to thoroughly clean and repair the affected areas”.

A spokesperson from Metropolitan Police said: "Officers attended along with London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service (LAS).

"The fire was extinguished a short time later.

“The cause of the fire is suspected to be arson.

“A 53-year-old man has been detained under the Mental Health Act. Enquiries continue."

A spokesperson for Croydon University Hospital said: "We’re pleased to confirm that our Emergency Department is once again fully open following yesterday’s fire that caused damage to a patient cubicle, with smoke and soot affecting many other areas of the Department.

“Our teams, internally supported by colleagues elsewhere in South West London, have worked throughout the night to thoroughly clean and repair the affected areas and we were able to safely reopen our doors to the public at 9.52am to resume full patient care services as normal.

“We would like to thank our patients and local community for all their messages of support and cooperation at this time.

"We can also confirm that police were called shortly after yesterday's suspected arson incident and a 53-year-old man has been detained under the Mental Health Act."

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a hospital on London Road in Thornton Heath.

“A room inside the hospital was destroyed by fire.

“There were no reports of any injuries. Around 80 to 100 people left the building before firefighters arrived.

“The Brigade received five calls about the fire.

“The Brigade was called at 2.58pm and the fire was under control by 5.08pm. Crews from Croydon, Norbury, and Wallington fire stations attended the scene.”