Grenfell Tower fire: Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital cladding fails safety test

Trust chiefs have confirmed a sample from the Heart and Lung Centre at the hospital has failed a combustibility test.

Bosses said they will work with the fire service to ensure the site remains safe – but the cladding will be removed in the future.

Patients will continue to be treated at the centre, which was built in 2004.

All NHS trusts and foundation trusts were asked to carry out urgent fire safety checks following the fire at Grenfell Tower.

So far six NHS organisations have submitted building material samples that have failed combustibility tests – including from New Cross.

The sample at the Heart and Lung Centre was found to be Aluminium Composite Material.

NHS Improvement said that 'following discussions with the local fire service and NHS Improvement, it has been decided it is safest and most appropriate to continue to treat patients in this unit'.

David Loughton, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's chief executive, said: "We can confirm that a sample of building material from the Heart and Lung Centre at our New Cross Hospital site in Wolverhampton has been found to be Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) and has subsequently failed a combustibility test.

"We have since been inspected twice by local fire safety inspectors who have confirmed they are satisfied with the precautions we are taking.

“There are high standards of general fire precautions in the Heart and Lung Centre, well trained staff available 24-hours-a-day and other security measures in place.

“We are also working with the fire service and NHS Improvement on additional measures, including enhanced fire warden patrols, keeping vehicles at least six metres away from the premises, increased security and staff awareness and a slight amendment to evacuation procedures.

"These are in line with the updated fire safety guidance issued by NHS Improvement.”

An NHS Improvement spokesman said: “Patient safety continues to be our absolute priority and we’ll make sure the NHS is supported to carry out the urgent fire safety checks required.”

The Trust has confirmed that there are no other buildings to be checked at the hospital and treatment will still go ahead at the Heart and Lung Centre. Work to investigate the cladding will begin in the coming months. The cost of addressing the issue of the cladding is not yet clear, with the Trust looking to put together an action plan with NHS Improvements as soon as possible.

The five other NHS samples to have failed the combustibility tests were taken from buildings that do not house patients overnight.

Councillor Greg Brackenridge, Labour councillor for Wednesfield South is a former fire fighter and on the board of the West Midlands Fire Authority. He said: "When I saw what happened at Grenfell I was absolutely horrified. Everything that has come out since shows how we need to keep testing and re-testing not only the cladding but also the insulation in buildings.

"The hospital needs to work with the fire service to take immediate remedial action to reassure people they are 100 per cent safe and that the buildings they are in meet all requirements."

Councillor Phil Bateman, Labour councillor for Wednesfield North said: "This is a centre of regional, as well as national importance with people coming from all over the country to be treated.

"This is not good news and it's surprising considering the building is one of the newer, more modern buildings in the hospital.

"I'm sure the Trust will work to reassure staff and patients that the building is safe and work to remove the cladding as soon as possible."

A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: “We've been working closely with a number of high-rise building owners since the Grenfell Tower fire, including the hospital.

“We rigorously assess risks across the West Midlands, and aim to respond to serious incidents that threaten life or property within just five minutes. This, coupled with our year-round prevention and protection work, puts us in a very strong position to respond to incidents involving all types of premises including high-rises.”