Hull hospital ordered to remove illegal cladding

New insulation and cladding were fitted to the outside of Hull Royal Infirmary in 2013 and 2014

Bosses at Hull Royal Infirmary have been told they must strip the outside of the hospital's main building, because it does not meet fire safety laws.

The insulation and cladding on the 13-storey tower block no longer comply with regulations, after a change in the law in 2022 following the Grenfell fire inquiry.

The Humber Health Partnership, which runs the hospital, said the building "continues to be safe", with 600 fire wardens and "one of the best fire alarm systems".

It said the materials were "fully compliant" when they were fitted, but Humberside Fire and Rescue Service had issued an order which legally requires the NHS trust to upgrade them.

Estates Director Tom Myers says Hull Royal Infirmary remains "one of the safest buildings"

Tom Myers, group director of estates, facilities and development for Humber Health Partnership, said he was made aware of "issues" during a routine review of the building's cladding and encapsulation system, carried out in early summer.

He said the system "doesn't really meet current building standards and, although building regulations aren't retrospective, there was an item that concerned us that we raised with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service."

Mr Myers reassured patients, staff and visitors, that the building, which "never sleeps", continues to be safe.

"I would say we are one of the safest buildings. Hospital buildings are much safer than residential buildings.

"We also have 600 fire wardens and we have one of the best fire alarm systems within there, so there's nothing to be concerned about from a safety perspective."

In July, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service issued an Enforcement Notice, a document usually served when there are concerns about fire safety.

It ordered the hospital to take precautions to ensure the safety of employees and the premises, until building work is completed.

A spokesperson for the fire service said its protection officers were working with the hospital on the upgrade and it was "satisfied with both the proposed works and the fire prevention measures currently in place during the construction period."

The Grenfell fire, which killed 72 people, led to tighter fire safety regulations

The cladding and insulation was fitted on Hull Royal Infirmary's tower block in 2013 and 2014.

It complied with building regulations at the time, but does not meet the requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022, a law brought in after the Grenfell tragedy.

Seventy-two people were killed in June 2017 when the fire ripped through the high-rise block of flats in London.

The inquiry into the fire found the building's cladding, made from combustible material, was the "principal" reason for the fire's rapid spread.

Mr Myers said, as a result of the change in regulations, the combination of the external materials on the hospital block do not meet current building standards.

He said the work would take about 20 months to complete, but, as the tendering process was in its early stages, the start date and costs were still unknown.

The group which champions local patients' interests, Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire, said it "welcomes any changes that will improve safety".

However, it said it would seek reassurances about the impact the building work would have on patient care, especially those with access needs, as the service was "already stretched".

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