§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how often hospital fire safety checks are made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieHealth authorities are required to have fire precautions policies and programmes agreed with local chief fire officers. Within the framework of these policies and programmes it is for health authorities to decide the type and frequency of checking applicable to specific fire precautions, having regard, where appropriate, to departmental and other guidance. For example, guidance on the maintenance and testing of fire alarm and detection systems is given in health technical memorandum 82. We attach great importance to the maintenance of effective fire precautions in all National Health Service units particularly as many patients are frail or immobile. We therefore require health authorities to be scrupulous in their observance of fire precaution regulations and guidance.