Bed capacity issues hold up hospital safety improvements

HSJ’s investigation into trust fire safety in the NHS since the Grenfell Tower disaster has found work to improve safety in at least three hospitals with known structural problems has been delayed because patients cannot be moved while work is going on.

Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust is planning “compartmentalisation” work to stop the spread of fire within the building, “subject to funding and having sufficient bed capacity to undertake the works”.

Issues around estates backlog maintenance are red rated in its most recent board assurance framework, which also suggests it is prioritising this work in the current financial year subject to funding.

A CUH spokesman said: “The safety of our patients and staff is a key priority and we continue to work closely with the local fire service to ensure that we have effective fire safety arrangements in place. We have well advanced plans to undertake further fire safety improvement works as soon as the final stages of capital allocation have been completed.”

East Sussex Healthcare Trust needs to carry out work, including compartmentalisation, to ensure it is compliant with fire safety legislation. A report to its board last month revealed its programme is behind schedule because it could not find a ward to “decant” patients into and asbestos had been discovered.

Fire issues are recorded as a major risk on the trust’s risk register and improving compartmentalisation at Eastbourne District General Hospital is expected to cost £1.5m over the next 18 months.

University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire Trust, which has well documented problems with compartmentalisation, has warned that there will be “significant clinical impact on the trust” from some of the work required.

The trust is working with its private finance initiative partner on finding a solution to move patients and allow some work to progress – but a first phase of work has fallen behind schedule because “of the clinical/operational impact and requirement to identify and implement a decant facility”.

The trust said last week: “Work is currently underway to create an additional decant ward. This will allow the remaining fire proofing work to be completed with minimal disruption to patients and staff.

“Until the works are completed, we have taken steps to strengthen our already robust fire safety procedures, including putting on additional patrols and increasing rubbish collections, as well as reminding all staff who work at University Hospital of our fire safety policies. We can assure patients, staff and visitors that the hospital remains safe while the remedial works are undertaken.”