Contribution by: Andy Jackson

Comment by: Andy Jackson

Focus area: Fire safety regulation

Regulator concerned: Fire safety (Fire Authority)

Comment:
I work for a large NHS Trust which contracts its Estates & Facilities services to small GP practices being run as businesses within the healthcare system. While the large NHS organisations take fire safety very seriously, it is fair to say that this is not high on the agenda of many independent GP practices. In particular, they would fail a fire authority audit on:

1. Evaluating the management of fire safety:
• Ensuring that an emergency plan is in place
• Ensuring that relevant people are informed & instructed where necessary, & that they co-operate & co-ordinate with others. particularly in shared buildings
• Ensuring that training is being undertaken

2. Recording:
• Significant findings and recommended action to be taken
• Changes and progress on Significant Findings from previous FRAs
• Revised actions where necessary