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26/11/2012
Call For H&S Action Plan At Altnagelvin Hospital
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has expressed deep concern at the possibility that health and safety concerns around the Altnagelvin Hospital tower block which caught fire tonight were not immediately acted on and has called for an immediate inspection.
He was speaking after receiving information that Health Trust representatives had been worried about the block for some time.
Mr Ramsey said: "We had a serious situation which affected the lives of dozens of patients who expect their safety to be of paramount importance while they are being treated.
"First and foremost, I cannot commend highly enough not just the emergency services and Translink, but all the hospital staff, along with off-duty colleagues who reacted swiftly and came to assist with the mammoth task of evacuating over 120 patients – some in beds, others in wheelchairs – and doing so calmly and in a way that calmed those in their care.
"However, it has come to my attention that concerns had been expressed for some time about the safety of the tower block which caught light.
"Indeed the chair of the Trust said in an interview that old buildings such as this bring with them serious fire risks.
"After the massive disruption, it is imperative that the Health Minister, hospital senior management, the Trust and the Health and Safety Executive immediately launch an inspection of the building and rapidly draw up an action plan to assure the public that they will be safe in the hospital wards.
"We cannot play fast and loose with the lives of people already suffering illness or injury."
(CD)
He was speaking after receiving information that Health Trust representatives had been worried about the block for some time.
Mr Ramsey said: "We had a serious situation which affected the lives of dozens of patients who expect their safety to be of paramount importance while they are being treated.
"First and foremost, I cannot commend highly enough not just the emergency services and Translink, but all the hospital staff, along with off-duty colleagues who reacted swiftly and came to assist with the mammoth task of evacuating over 120 patients – some in beds, others in wheelchairs – and doing so calmly and in a way that calmed those in their care.
"However, it has come to my attention that concerns had been expressed for some time about the safety of the tower block which caught light.
"Indeed the chair of the Trust said in an interview that old buildings such as this bring with them serious fire risks.
"After the massive disruption, it is imperative that the Health Minister, hospital senior management, the Trust and the Health and Safety Executive immediately launch an inspection of the building and rapidly draw up an action plan to assure the public that they will be safe in the hospital wards.
"We cannot play fast and loose with the lives of people already suffering illness or injury."
(CD)
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