asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the fire precaution arrangements in hospitals are adequate.
81.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Fire and Emergency Precautions.
80.
asked the Minister for Health if he will institute a national survey of the existing level of fire precaution arrangements in hospitals.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together.
Fire precaution arrangements in hospitals are primarily a matter for the hospital authorities concerned, whether these be health boards or voluntary bodies. My Department have issued circulars to each hospital authority, including voluntary hospitals, private hospitals and nursing homes, drawing their attention to a number of measures that should be undertaken to ensure that fire precautions are adequate. The circulars emphasised the importance of having a clear chain of responsibility and authority in regard to fire precautions and having a named person designated as clearly responsible for fire precautions. They also drew attention to the need to ensure compliance with the requirements of the local fire authority, to have fire fighting equipment inspected and tested regularly, regular fire drills carried out, buildings patrolled adequately at night, and records kept of all matters relating to fire precautions.
Within the past two years, fire prevention officers have been appointed by each health board, with specific duties in regard to fire prevention in hospitals. The combination of the work of these fire prevention officers with that of the local fire service is considered adequate to minimise the ever present risk of fire. I do not think that a formal national survey of arrangements is called for.
82.
asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that all the principal hospitals in this country have adequate emergency procedures prepared to enable them to cope with a major disaster occurring in their areas.
Each health board has prepared a major accident plan for its area and exercises have been carried out to prepare the health board and voluntary hospitals to meet the demands which might be placed upon them in the event of a major emergency.
These arrangements have ensured in the past that hospitals coped satisfactorily with special urgent demands made on them and I would expect that the same position will obtain in the future. However, the arrangements are kept constantly under review.