Reviews of fire safety commissioned in 2005 by the NHS Estates Agency highlighted flaws in the fire safety of three purpose-built mental health units in Leeds. Leeds City Council found on investigation that there is no explicit fire safety guidance for new-build mental health facilities. In this case the new units were built to ‘patient hotel’ standard which is less rigorous than the recommended ‘general hospital’ standard. There is no independent inspectorate overseeing fire safety in NHS buildings.
A safety representative was given a written warning and a fire officer suspended from work after whistleblowing their concerns.
Source:
In the Back, Private Eye, no. 1149, 6-19 January 2006.
