Study Of Fire Risks
Newcastle Herald
Thursday April 24, 2008
OFFICIALS will investigate if other NSW hospitals could be affected by the fire safety problem that has forced the evacuation of parts of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH).
NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher ordered yesterday another inquiry into the beleaguered RNSH hospital, this time centred on the fire safety compliance issues. "I will also be seeking an update from my director-general about the (fire safety) compliance program that is run across all of our hospitals in NSW," Ms Meagher said.Air-conditioning ducts needed to be sprayed with a fire retardant and fire dampers throughout the RNSH's Douglas Building needed rectification before patients could return to treatment areas, including a pediatrics ward, NSW Health said. When questioned about the possible effect on other NSW hospitals, Ms Meagher said she was focused on the RNSH ward. "My priority for today is to ensure that we are fully across the situation at the Douglas Building and that we are able to ensure not only patient safety but minimal disruption to patients," she said. Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner said Ms Meagher has failed to satisfy patients in NSW that the problems at RNSH don't extend to other hospitals. "Health Minister Meagher has failed to reassure the community that their local public hospital is fire safe," Mrs Skinner said. "Instead of demanding answers from the health department, Reba Meagher has done what she does best initiated yet another inquiry. "It would be fair to say that Reba Meagher has probably lost count of how many inquiries and investigations are underway into the NSW Health system." AAP
© 2008 Newcastle Herald