Hospital fire exits blocked to create bed space

[Still Waters]

Fire exits in hospital wards are being intentionally blocked in order to create extra bed space.

The Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro said it was a temporary measure to cope with increased demand.

The chief executive insisted the move was legal, and only undertaken when an area had undergone a safety assessment.

But one patient, who was treated on two wards with fire exits blocked by beds, questioned the wisdom of the scheme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0j3kjv1v3po

[+susieice]

I don't think it's ever a good idea to block fire exits. 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

1 hour ago, susieice said:

I don't think it's ever a good idea to block fire exits. 

It's not, but in the case of bed ridden patients they are unable to use the fire exits anyway and evacuating the very sick could be catastrophic.

The three NHS hospitals I worked in all used a "zonal" evacuations system. In the event of a fire patients were moved to the next, safe zone. Evacuation was internal rather than external. Fire escapes would be used only in a case of immediate danger to life.

[pellinore]

6 hours ago, susieice said:

I don't think it's ever a good idea to block fire exits. 

 

I'm sure the Fire Services agree with you 110%. If they haven't been involved yet, they will be now. We'll ignore safety just as a temporary measure? I wonder how many people have died because someone thought that was a good idea? I won't bother with a seat belt as I'm just popping to the offey.

Edited September 21 by pellinore