§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any mattresses which do not meet the standards laid down in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 have been purchased by, and are in use in, the National Health Service. [HL1860]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)Mattresses currently included on the national framework agreement negotiated by the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency meet Health Technical Memorandum 87—the National Health Service fire code document for textiles and furniture. This standard recommends compliance with a higher level of ignition source than the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
However, the framework agreement is not a mandatory contract. NHS trusts are responsible for choosing their own procurement route for these products. Therefore, they may buy products from suppliers that are not listed on the framework agreement. Information about which mattresses are bought by individual trusts is not held centrally.