NHS staff found storing and charging e-bikes in hospitals despite warnings

Metro can reveal the devices are being kept in staff rooms, corridors, and even toilet cubicles despite NHS rules banning them from all buildings

Dangerous e-bikes and e-scooters are being kept inside London hospitals in what campaigners warn is a ‘preventable tragedy waiting to happen’.

Metro can reveal the devices are being kept in staff rooms, corridors, and even toilet cubicles despite NHS rules banning them from all buildings.

One image, taken by a nurse at Whipps Cross Hospital, shows an e-scooter being charged in a staff room just three weeks ago. Another shows an e-bike parked next to an exit at University College Hospital.

The devices are most likely to catch fire while charging, especially if they have been modified or fitted with unofficial parts.

Even standard lithium-ion batteries, which are in all e-bikes and scooters, can fail and explode if damaged or overcharged.

Internal emails seen by Metro warn staff not to bring e-bikes onto the premises, but a source said some are being hidden inside the buildings to get around the rules.

One image, taken by a nurse at Whipps Cross Hospital, shows an e-scooter being charged in a staff room An e-bike parked next to an exit at University College Hospital

NHS Property Services has issued guidance stating they must not be brought inside buildings at any time, including for charging.

The London Fire Brigade has criticised the hospitals, reminding them of their ‘legal duty to identify fire risks’.

They said: ‘Hospitals and other healthcare premises care for many vulnerable people, and in the event of a fire, their ability to escape could be severely limited.

‘Those responsible for these premises have a legal duty to identify fire risks and take appropriate action to mitigate and manage those risks.’

Alda Simoes described e-bikes in hospitals as a ‘preventable tragedy waiting to happen’ (Picture: Justin Griffiths-Williams)

The danger of e-bike fires

Alda Simoes has campaigned for e-bike safety after the death of her friend’s daughter Sofia Duarte, 21, the first person in London to die in an e-bike fire.

Sofia died in her boyfriend’s flat on New Year’s Eve 2024 after an e-bike charger exploded, setting fire to a second e-bike and trapping her inside.

Alda said: ‘Known risks must be acted upon, not ignored. Failures in enforcement, communication and accountability can have devastating consequences.’

Since Sofia’s death, the number of e-bike fires has increased significantly.

Sofia Duarte, 21, who died when a blaze caused by an e-bike battery(Picture: Maria Frasquilho Macarro/SWNS)

Last year alone, London Fire Brigade attended more than 200 e-bike and e-scooter fires — a record high. As of April, 64 fires have been recorded in London in 2026.

Six people have been killed in e-bike fires since 2023. At least four had no connection to the device that caused the fire.

Barts Health NHS Trust said: ‘Trust policy states that electric bikes should not, under any circumstances, be charged inside one of our buildings and staff should adhere to this.

‘We are in the process of getting charging facilities installed outside the hospital to make charging easier for staff and visitors.’

UCLH said: ‘We have clear guidance about the storage and use of e-bikes and e-scooters designed to minimise potential fire risk.

‘We are investigating the information shared and we will take appropriate action while continuing to encourage staff to immediately report any fire safety concerns to Estates and Facilities so we can take swift action.’

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