Fire Precautions At Nurses' Home

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 16

Fire Precautions At Nurses' Home

(New Aeaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON’, December 12. The Wellington Hospital Board viewed with concern the published comments about fire protection facilities at the Hutt Hospital nurses’ home, said the chairman, Mr B. L. Dallard, today. He was replying in a statement to a claim made at a meeting of the Hutt Valley and Bays Fire Board on Tuesday that no action had been taken on a report made by the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade in February, 1960.

•'To say. as was said at the meeting, that the hospital authorities completely ignore the risk to life evident at the nurses' home is to five a wrong impression,” said Mr Dallard. “The safety of patients and staff in institutions under the control of the Wellington Hospital Board has always been a matter of paramount importance to members and officers of the board, and over the last year or two thousands of pounds have been spent in bringing its many buildings to a desired standard of fire protection. “In addition to the muchvalued advice and co-opera-tion which has been received from fire officers of the vari-

ous fire brigades in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, tne board has its own fine officer who is engaged full-time on fine protection and education of the staff in safety measures.” Mr Dallard said the Hutt Hospital nurses' home w-is adequately covered with hose reels and rousing bells had been installed throughout. All sections of the nurs.ng staff received Instruction m fire emergency precautions “It is unfortunate that shortage of accommodation has necessitated the use of rooms designed as solaria as bedroom accommodation, but when this was done instructions were issued that the exit doors were to be kept cler.r of all furniture and these instructions have been r - iterated 'from time to time "Panic doors and all fire safety equipment and app .- ances are tested from time to time. “Although the panic bolt referred to in the report h l rusted, the door could still i>e opened. “Phans are nearing completion for extensions to tie home to provide addition bedrooms and when these are available it will no longer be necessry to use the jolaria as bedrooms ’’ Mr Dallard said the board was very much aware of its responsibilities in the matter of fire protection.