Update: Friday 14 August

Our Springwood unit in Malton was significantly damaged by a fire on 8 July.

A detailed assessment by structural engineering specialists has advised that the areas affected by the fire are structurally unsafe.  

While part of the building looks unaffected from the front, the structure has been badly damaged and is no longer safe.

Following advice from structural engineers and our insurers, the whole building will need to be demolished. 

We recognise that this is really sad news.

Springwood has been a valued part of the community for many years, supporting people and families across the area.

We know the ward holds a special place in the hearts of many former patients, carers, staff and local residents.   

Demolition work will begin on Monday 17 August.

Safety fencing and hoardings have been installed around the site. We are working closely with contractors and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to minimise disruption to patients and staff on the site of Malton Hospital, and to nearby residents.

We are contacting residents who neighbour the site, so they know what is happening and have contact details should they have any questions or concerns during the demolition work.   

Once again, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported the response to the fire.

We are incredibly grateful to colleagues, emergency services, partner organisations and members of the community for their support during and after the incident.  

Thank you for your continued understanding. We will keep you updated on next steps and the future of dementia care in our region. 

Update: Thursday 23 July 2026

The investigation into the fire at our Springwood ward is ongoing, with a full report expected in the coming weeks.

However, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has established that the fire most likely started at one of the solar panels on the roof of the building.

Due to the damage sustained to the solar panels during the fire, it has not been possible to determine any further details about the cause.

Thanks to the quick response from our colleagues on the ground, the building was safely evacuated and no one was harmed.

We are grateful to the emergency services for their swift response, to our Springwood colleagues, staff across our trust and to the local community in Malton, who offered help and support during the incident.

The safety of our staff and the people we care for remains our priority. We have robust fire safety measures in place across our trust, including regular fire alarm testing and fire safety checks. We can confirm that Fire Safety Risk Assessments are in place and current for all our trust buildings. This also applies to our electrical infrastructure and installations.

We can also confirm that the fire safety systems at Springwood operated as they were supposed to when the fire started.

We are continuing to manage the Springwood site and ensure it remains safe. We will share updates as this work progresses.

Update: Thursday 9 July 2026

Local fire and emergency services responded to a fire at our Springwood ward in Malton yesterday.

The fire was extinguished and all patients and staff were safely evacuated.

This is an upsetting incident for everyone involved, and our focus remains on supporting our staff, patients and families.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone involved, including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue colleagues for their swift response, and to local school colleagues for supporting our staff and the people we care for.

We would also like to say thank you to the local community who were themselves affected by this but continued to offer support and help during the incident.

We will continue to work closely with the fire service to determine the cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.

Wednesday 8 July 2026

Local fire and emergency services are responding to an incident on the site of our Springwood unit in Malton.

The safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff is our highest priority. We are working closely with the emergency services to manage the situation and can confirm that all patients and staff are safe. We are grateful to the emergency services and local school colleagues who have supported our patients and staff so compassionately.

We’re asking that people stay away from Springwood ward. If you are near the scene, please follow the directions of the emergency services on the ground.

Further updates will be issued from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service.

Media enquiries

If you have a media enquiry relating to the incident, please email: [email protected]