§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS estate was compliant with fire safety requirements in each of the last five financial years; and what the outstanding cost is of related repairs as of the end of the current financial year. [56944]
§ Ms BlearsThe principal source of information in respect of establishing historic compliance with fire safety requirements is the estates return information collection (ERIC) system where data is returned annually by national health service trusts up to the end of the financial year being reported. Data in respect of non-NHS trust property that form part of the NHS estate (eg health authority offices, primary care groups etc.) are not available.
The most relevant indicator is 'Costs to Achieve Statutory Fire Safety Compliance Standard B (excluding fire safety)'. In this context, condition B is the minimum standard required and is defined in the NHS guidance, estatecode, as meaning buildings which do not have backlog maintenance costs in respect of fire safety deficiencies and which comply with NHS firecode guidance and statutory requirements.
NHS trust accommodation which is currently below condition B standard will include that for which there is work outstanding that is of a relatively low risk but required under statutory legislation. The NHS is always striving to keep up to-date with new legislation and to provide a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. Fire safety is a serious issue, which is why we have set targets for the NHS in this area and every effort is made to remedy any concerns expressed by local enforcement bodies as quickly as possible. This is reflected in the extremely small numbers of injuries and deaths arising as a result of fires in NHS hospitals in England despite the high volumes of people who access healthcare premises annually. I have also imposed targets set by HSC 1999/191 to reduce backlog maintenance costs associated with fire safety and to achieve compliance with firecode.
1084WThe following table identifies the percentage of NHS trusts in England, over the five year period 1996–97 to 2000–01, who report having achieved the desired condition B standard having zero backlog maintenance costs associated with fire safety compliance:
Percentage of total to achieve estatecode condition B—fire safety Year 1996–97 8.4 1997–98 9.4 1998–99 9.8 1999–2000 11.1 2000–01 21.0 These figures demonstrate that the numbers of NHS trusts which comply with the fire code requirement are increasing. Clearly, we can do more, and we are doing so through setting and monitoring the aforementioned targets. In addition, progress is expected to further accelerate as the outcome of the increased major capital investment programme in the NHS reaches fruition.
With regard to the current outstanding cost of repairs, the most recent data available are for the year 2000–01. This shows that the total cost of backlog maintenance for NHS trusts in England to achieve estatecode condition B in respect of fire safety compliance at the end of the fiscal year 2000–01 is £239 million. Planned major capital investment throughout the NHS should see the eradication of a large proportion of this backlog.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS estate was compliant with health and safety requirements at the end of each of the last five financial years; and what the outstanding cost is of repairs as of the end of the current financial year. [56943]
§ Ms BlearsThe principal source of information in respect of establishing historic compliance with health and safety requirements is the estates return information collection (ERIC) system where data are returned annually by national health service trusts up to the end of the financial year being reported. Data in respect of non-NHS trust property that form part of the NHS estate (eg health authority offices, primary care groups etc.) are not available.
The most relevant indicator is 'Costs to Achieve Statutory Health & Safety Compliance Standard B (excluding fire safety)'. In this context, condition B is the minimum standard that NHS trusts are required to meet and is defined in the NHS guidance, estatecode, as meaning buildings which do not have backlog maintenance costs in respect of health and safety deficiencies and which comply with statutory requirements.
NHS trust accommodation which is currently below condition B standards will include that for which there is work outstanding that is of a relatively low risk but required under statutory legislation. The NHS is always striving to keep up to-date with new legislation and to provide a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. Health and safety is a serious issue, which is why we have set targets for the NHS in this area and every effort is made to remedy any concerns expressed by local enforcement bodies as quickly as possible. This is reflected in the relatively few numbers of health and safety incidents reported under the mandatory Reporting 1085W of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). I have also imposed targets set by HSC 1999–191 to reduce backlog maintenance costs associated with health and safety requirements and to achieve statutory compliance.
The following table shows the percentage of NHS trusts in England, over the five year period 1996–97 to 2000–01, who report having achieved the desired condition B standard:
Percentage of total to achieve estatecode condition B—health and safety Year 1996–97 10.3 1997–98 9.0 1998–99 9.6 1999–2000 7.8 2000–01 18.9 These figures demonstrate that the numbers of NHS trusts which comply with the health and safety requirement are increasing despite the continual introduction of new legislation. Clearly, we can do more, and we are doing so through setting and monitoring the aforementioned targets. In addition, progress is expected to further accelerate as the outcome of the increased major capital investment programme in the NHS reaches fruition.
With regard to the current outstanding cost of repairs, the most recent data available are for the year 2000–01. This shows that the total cost of backlog maintenance for NHS trusts in England to achieve estatecode condition B in respect of statutory health and safety compliance at the end of the fiscal year 2000–01 is £355 million. Planned major capital investment throughout the NHS should see the eradication of a large proportion of this backlog.