A HEALTH trust faces criticism after an inspection of its hospital revealed a catalogue of fire safety deficiencies.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) was handed an enforcement notice by the fire service, demanding it to make immediate improvements to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Chairwoman of Patient Voice Jacquie Pearce-Gervis said the report is very ‘alarming’ and pressure needs to be put on the trust to make sure neither staff nor patient safety is compromised.

She added: “Why did the trust not spot these deficiencies and do something about them?

“It goes without saying that had Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service not been called the consequences could have been very serious indeed.

“In light of the Grenfell Tragedy we need to be far more vigilante in ensuring people’s safety.”

A routine inspection was carried out in August and a number of deficiencies was found in Level 0 of the hospital, including: damaged fire doors, breaches requiring repair to fire stopping around new services and cables where they pass through walls and general housekeeping relating to unauthorised temporary storage of goods and deliveries.

Executive director at OUH Peter Knight said: “The fire and rescue service issued an enforcement notice to the trust in relation to a number of fire safety-related issues on Level 0.

“Level 0 is a staff only area and patients have not been placed at an unacceptable level of risk to fire.

“The notice was served on August, 8 with an initial time frame of 28 days, with an extension of four weeks when the trust demonstrated that a suitable level of progress was being made.”

OUH agreed a plan of works with the fire service and has been given until the beginning of January to complete all of the outstanding works.

Following the inspection the trust has appointed two additional fire safety roles, who will then undertake an annual review of all the trust’s fire risk assessment.

They will also be expected to support fire safety training and give fire safety assistance and support within the trust.

But this is not the first time the trust has faced serious fire safety breaches in its hospital.

In August it was forced to re-locate 52 patients from its trauma unit, after a fire safety report found a catalogue of errors, which put their lives at risk.

Cladding, insufficient fire breaks between floors and vulnerable patients being unable to get out quick enough during a fire meant the patients had to be moved into two separate wards in the main building of the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Now three months on and OUH say they have ‘no further update’ to give on how work is commencing to rectify the health and safety breaches or when they hope to move the trauma patients back into the unit.