Nursing home evacuated in 'poison gas' scare

About 35 people were led out of the Cherry Garden Nursing Home, a private care home in Breadcroft Lane, Littlewick Green, shortly after midday on Monday.

A woman in her 90s and a care home worker were taken to Wexham Park Hospital, while others were treated at the scene by medical staff and some were given oxygen.

It is believed that chemicals were mixed in a mop bucket which could have given off a chlorine gas.

Staff reacted quickly and an ambulance was called to help a woman in her 90s who was having breathing difficulties, but when the emergency services arrived there were dozens more people to deal with.

A fleet of ambulances took residents to Gardner House Day Centre, in Harrow Lane, while the home was ventilated.

Firefighters along with four ambulances and four non-emergency PTS (patient transport services) helped the residents, as well as social services and emergency care practitioners. 

The ambulance services were seeing to people until 4.40pm.

It is understood that the people taken to hospital were discharged the following day.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation into the case.

Nobody at Cherry Garden Nursing Home was able to comment today.