Julie Dawes, Basingstoke’s chief nursing officer, said the response of staff in Southampton had been “miraculous” as they moved patients to safety when the fire broke out.
“Between the whole system, we’ve been working really hard trying to transfer those patients out of the hospital,” she said.
“It’s put a lot of pressure both on our emergency departments and our beds.”
A record 600 patients attended Basingstoke’s emergency department on a single day earlier this week.
But she said it was “business as usual” at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and people should attend appointments as usual.
“What we are asking for is support for the public – only attended our emergency department if it’s really a urgent and critical injury or illness,” she added.