A car struck a GP practice on Douglas Street in Hamilton on Thursday morning, prompting evacuations and a cordon while emergency teams made safety checks. The incident has disrupted local services and closed the road between Clydesdale Street and Almada Street as police and engineers secure the scene.
Emergency crews were called to the town-centre practice shortly after 9am on Thursday, May 21. Officers closed the stretch of Douglas Street around the surgery and evacuated several nearby premises, including the adjoining pharmacy, as a precaution while structural and utility inspections were carried out.
What happened at the scene
Photographs from the location show a silver car lodged against the side of the building, with the bonnet raised and masonry disturbed. Onlookers and journalists reported gas engineers working alongside police officers to check for leaks and other hazards before the building can be declared safe.
Police Scotland confirmed the road closure and said staff had cleared nearby properties as a precaution. Authorities asked the public to avoid the area while emergency services remain on site.
Impact on the GP practice and patients
NHS Lanarkshire said the GP surgery on Douglas Street is closed while repairs and safety work continue. The practice is providing care for urgent cases only, with routine appointments suspended until the building is safe to use.
Calls to the surgery’s usual number are being redirected and patients contacting the practice will be given instructions about how to access care. NHS Lanarkshire expects normal services to resume on Tuesday, May 26, noting Monday is a bank holiday.
- Time of incident: shortly after 9am, Thursday, May 21
- Location: Douglas Street, Hamilton (closed between Clydesdale Street and Almada Street)
- Properties evacuated: the GP surgery and the adjacent Boots pharmacy among others
- Vehicle: silver car seen embedded in the building (images circulated from the scene)
- Injuries: not confirmed at the time of reporting
- Services: practice seeing urgent patients only; routine care paused until May 26
Local officers remain on site while engineers complete checks on the structure and utilities. Police and NHS spokespeople thanked staff, emergency crews and members of the public for their cooperation during the response.
Residents and drivers are advised to follow diversion signs and avoid the immediate area while investigations and remedial work continue. Journalists and users should expect further updates from Police Scotland and NHS Lanarkshire as more information becomes available.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
