NHS bosses in building safety cover-up
- West Herts Trust bosses have refused to come clean on the progress – or otherwise – of crucial safety works on our local hospitals
- This follows an independent ‘Six Facet Survey’ carried out over two years ago that revealed many problems with the condition and maintenance of buildings at Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hospitals
- Scores of serious problems were given a ‘C’ rating in early 2024 – meaning ‘major repair or replacement is currently needed’.
- Examples of such critical conditions in just one building – Watford General’s Women and Children’s block – included problems with:
- Ventilation systems
- Coolers and chilling systems
- Control panels in the lifts
- Electrical switchgear and wiring
- Fuel supply, storage and distribution in the energy centre
- CCTV systems
- Internal drainage
- A member of DHAG – the Dacorum Health Action Group – asked the Trust for an update and timetable of specific actions taken to put right the worst problems
- But Trust bureaucrats refused to provide the information requested, saying only they ‘keep estate-related risks under continual review’
- They claim to have ‘robust mitigation plans in place’ – but provided no details
- They also turned down the member’s request to raise the safety issue with the Trust Board at its meeting last week