§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available, how many fires occurred in National Health Service hospitals; if he will give an analysis of the causes for such fires; if he will indicate the nature of injuries sustained; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation is not available in precisely the form requested. The following tables show the number of fires in hospitals, including those in the private sector and in nursing homes during the four years 1978 to 1981, their cause and the nature of injuries sustained. Separate information is not available for National Health Service hospitals alone. Information for 1982 is not yet available. Information for 1977 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Although less than 5 per cent. of the fires which occurred in the period 1978 to 1981 resulted in injuries, we are fully aware of the serious threat that fire poses to Health Service premises. In the last two years guidance on various aspects of fire safety has been issued to health authorities. Improvements in building design to secure a higher level of fire safety are being undertaken together with appropriate research.
Work is also in hand to identify the hospitals which are at greatest risk and to inform the health authorities concerned so that they may carry out the necessary improvements.
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Table 2—Casualties from fires in hospitals in England by nature of injury, 1978–1981 Number Nature of injury Non-fatal casualties Fatal casualties 1978* 1979 1980* 1981 1978* 1979 1980* 1981 Total, of which 46 80 74 61 8 20 2 18 Burns† 28 32 44 34 2 8 — 9 Overcome by gas or smoke† 5 11 19 11 4 6 2 1 Combination of above two rows — — — 2 — 5 — 7 Physical injuries† 8 4 6 7 — — — — Shock only 5 33 5 7 — 1 — — Other — — — — — — — 1 Unspecified or unknown — — — — 2 — — — * As a result of industrial action by fire brigades in 1978 and 1980 an estimated 10 per cent, of fires were not reported. The number of fires and casualties in those years given in the table are therefore incomplete. † Alone or in combination with shock. Other unspecified combinations of injuries are included under other.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received from the Royal College of Nursing regarding fire hazards faced by nurses in a National Health Service hospital; if he is aware of the inflammable nature of the materials used; if he will publish in the Official Report his reply to the Royal College of Nursing; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has investigated the fire hazard involved in substances and materials used in the National Health Service, particularly in hospitals; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he has investigated the fire hazard involved with clothing used by doctors, nurses, paramedical and ancillary staff in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenFollowing a recent fire at Treliske hospital in a store containing staff uniforms, flammability tests were commissioned at the Shirley institute, Manchester, on the following materials: cotton, polyester/cotton, polyester/viscose and 100 per cent. polyester. The first three are those most commonly used for clothing worn by doctors, nurses, paramedical and ancillary staff in the National Health Service: 100 per cent. polyester is less common. Fabric tests were those specified in a British standard but additionally a number of nurses' dresses and dresses made from "retail" fabric were tested for flame spread. Results showed that there were no significant differences in flammability between cotton, polyester/cotton and polyester/viscose but, as expected, 100 per cent. polyester was markedly superior. Nurses' dresses were shown to be essentially no different from those in everyday use by the public.
With respect to fire hazards with other materials, Her Majesty's Stationery Office will publish this autumn a DHSS health technical memorandum No. 87, "Fire Safety in Health Care Premises—Furniture, Furnishings, Bed Assemblies, Apparel". This updates advice already used in various forms and concentrates on materials used in wards and apparel worn by patients. For furniture such as beds, chairs and screens, and furnishings like curtains, blinds, floor coverings, advice reiterates flame retardant specifications already applied to these items when purchased by the National Health Service through central contracts arranged by the Property Services Agency. Such advice is based on fire tests conducted over a number of years: these have included simulating furnishing 236W conditions of a complete ward. Currently substantial effort is being directed into investigations of a variety of different combinations of bedclothes and mattresses.
Some substances used in hosptials are well known as fire risks. The Department, through Her Majesty's Stationery Office, published in 1982 a health technical memorandum No. 83, "Fire Safety in Health Care Premises—General Fire Precautions". This includes guidance on storage, use and disposal of specific flammable substances.
With respect to the Royal College of Nursing, we have received correspondence expressing its concern about the flammability properties of nurses' uniform dresses: this arose from the store room fire at Treliske hospital. It was as a result of that concern that the tests at the Shirley institute, to which I referred, were commissioned. A full copy of the Shirley institute report has recently been sent to the Royal College of Nursing. Because of the size and nature of this report it would be inappropriate to publish it in the Official Report, but I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.