Torbay Hospital must make immediate changes to improve its fire safety measures, following an inspection in July. Devon and Somerset Fire Service issued an enforcement notice to Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, specifically for floors four to eight of Torbay Hospital's Tower Block.
The fire service stated that changes are needed to provide "sufficient escape routes for people in the event of a fire," and these must be completed by 6 November. The Care Quality Commission has also inspected the building and issued a warning notice.
A spokesperson for the hospital trust said it is "fully committed to meeting the requirements of the notice." The trust is working with authorities on a plan to "temporarily relocate some services based in the Tower Block to other locations in Torbay Hospital and to Trust sites in our communities." This is intended to "reduce the number of inpatients being cared for in parts of the Tower Block" and ensure safe evacuation during a fire.