Coventry University Hospital needs millions to fix fire safety problems

[dutchman]

£380million hospital require two years of round-the-clock work to solve the problem



Coventry's flagship hospital was built without proper fire protection, it has emerged.

University Hospital in Walsgrave, which opened ten years ago at a cost of £380million, will require two years of round-the-clock work to fix the problem.

Following an investigation, hospital bosses discovered that structures created to stop fire were not as robost as those specified in original plans.

University Hospital is the country’s most expensive project under the private finance initiative (PFI).

A PFI is a way of creating a “public-private partnership” in which private firms are hired to complete and manage public projects.

Three other hospitals that also need more fire protection are Royal Derby, Walsall Manor in the West Midlands and King’s Mill in Nottinghamshire.

A report in The Sun said it will take two years and £47m to fix the mistakes made by contractors Skanska who were hired to build the hospitals.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has been called in to help the hospital create a fire safety plan while the repair work is underway.

WMFS have been contacted by the Telegraph for information on what protection needs to be installed at the hospital.

Bosses at the hospital are now keen to reassure staff, patients and visitors that more is being done to ensure their safety while standards are brought up to scratch.

David Eltringham, chief operating officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: “Firstly we can assure our patients, staff and visitors that we remain vigilant in ensuring fire safety standards are maintained at all times.

“Following a review of the fire safety separation at University Hospital, we learned of some potential issues with the infrastructure.

“As a result of these issues, we immediately launched an internal investigation to determine if any further steps needed to be taken to make the site safer.

“This investigation appeared to show that, in the unlikely event of a fire, the structures to prevent it spreading were not as robust as those specified in the original plan for the building.”

Skanska has declined to comment.

[rebbonk]

Skanska has declined to comment.

I bet they have!

We paid through the nose for this facility, those that administered it on our behalf need bringing to account.

[Melisandre]

Perhaps it will become the new mass crematorium
If this was any business it would be closed down until all the work was completed then where would we be with the government planning on closing down other Hospitals and A&E George Elliot was mentioned on the radio news the other week for closing .

[dutchman]

‘£50m bill’ to repair major fire safety problems at University Hospital

AN estimated £50million is needed to make Coventry’s University Hospital safer from fire risks following shock revelations.

A safety review conducted by University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire Trust revealed the hospital was constructed without the originally intended fire protection.

The hospital was built under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) by construction group Skanska – which holds a 35-year contract at the hospital.

The internal review revealed structures which would prevent a fire from spreading through the hospital were not as ‘robust’ as they should be, potentially putting patients, staff and visitors at risk.

An Observer source close to the issue, who did not want to be identified, claimed total expenditure to fix the problem will be £50million – and work is not expected to be fully completed until 2020.

The whistleblower told us three aspects of the building were identified for the work – ceiling piping throughout the hospital called ‘Girpi’ piping; fire protection materials in walls throughout the building; and the Mental Health Unit, which had already been forced to close wards at times due to the problem.

Our source said: “Each room in the hospital has passive fire protection in the walls to stop fire from spreading.

“By law, the protection should prevent fire from spreading to the next room for a minimum of 30 minutes, ideally for 60 minutes.”

He claimed some rooms at University Hospital failed to meet that standard.

Our source said a team of 100 workers, employed by Skanska, is now tackling the passive fire protection problem – and an additional 25 workers are carrying out the work at night.

Work to the walls is expected to cost £30million and will not be complete until at least August next year, our source said.

Work at the mental health unit should be completed by January next year, costing approximately £7 million.

The plastic Girpi piping will take until 2020 to replace costing £10 million, the whistleblower added.

Skanska was unavailable for comment.

[dutchman]

Developer urged to explain "concerning" lack of fire protection at University Hospital



A senior councillor has voiced his concerns over news that University Hospital was built without proper fire protection.

Coun Damian Gannon has written to Swedish developers Skanska asking for reassurances that they are not aware of any other issues at the hospital than the ones already identified.

The council’s chair of the health overview and scrutiny committee has also called on the company to explain what repair work needs to take place and how it will be funded.

In his letter, Coun Gannon wrote: “It is paramount that the public have a hospital building which is safe and fit for purpose and that they have confidence that this is the case.

“Many people I have spoken to are really concerned especially given the cost to the tax payer of the hospital build.”

He added: “I will await their response with interest. If further issues do arise, I will be requesting Skanska to attend the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to explain the shortcomings with the hospital building and progress with the remedial work.”

It has been estimated that it will take millions of pounds, as well as two years of round-the-clock work, to fix the problem.

[rebbonk]

For once Gannon is going in the right direction.