1. In light of the fire safety defects discovered in 2020, can you please tell me if the trust now considers the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital fully safe for all users?
ELHT continues to work collaboratively with LFRS, its PFI Partners and relevant stakeholders to ensure all ELHT hospital sites remain safe for use.
2. Does the trust consider the Burnley General Teaching Hospital safe for all users?
ELHT continues to work collaboratively with LFRS, its PFI Partners and relevant stakeholders to ensure all ELHT hospital sites remain safe for use.
3. Can you please tell me what action has been taken over the fire safety defects at each of the hospitals since 2020?
The PFI companies have undertaken works, the following are examples for each site:-
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
· Fire Alarm System improvements including Void Detection
· Passive Fire Protection
· Fire Door Sets replacement and remediation
· Putty Pad installations in electrical back boxes
· Glazed screens
· Lightning Protection improvements
Burnley General Teaching Hospital
· Fire Alarm System improvements including Void Detection
· Rebuilding of Compartment and Sub-Compartment Fire Walls
· Installation of new Fire Dampers
· Passive Fire Protection
· Fire Door Sets replacement and remediation
· Putty Pad installations in electrical back boxes
· Installation of Cavity Barriers
· Remediation of T Junctions
4. How much money has the trust sought back or withheld from each the PFI companies for each of the hospitals since 2020?
No money has been withheld from each of the PFIs since 2020 in relation to the Fire Safety Defects.
5. How much future money is the trust seeking to withhold from each of them?
The Trust is unable to provide the information requested as this information is commercial in confidence. This information is exempt under section 43 (commercial interests) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as the information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of those involved.
Section 43 (2) is a qualified exemption which means the Trust must undertake a public interest test. The Trust has considered the public interest in disclosing this information and while it is in the public interest to disclose information that informs the public of how we spend our money, especially where this relates to the provision of public services, we have determined that the prejudice arising from disclosure outweighs the benefit to the public in this instance.
