Forty-eight safety improvements will have been carried out at Royal Stoke University Hospital by the end of the year following an arson attack at the site, reports the Stoke Sentinel.

Around two-thirds of the works have already been completed to make sure the hospital can sufficiently cope with a serious blaze.

It follows an enforcement notice imposed by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service which listed 48 required 'actions'.

They included work to stop smoke spreading, tighter procedures during major incidents, and face-to-face fire safety training for all staff.

More than 7,200 workers have received the training already.

Firefighters had also raised concerns over fire doors being ‘wedged open’ and the ‘inappropriate storage of combustibles on corridors’ following the arson attack.

Barry Deacon, the hospital's deputy director of estates and facilities, said: “A sub-group was set up to look at the logistics of moving staff around and make sure goods and waste are not left on corridors. We are asking to meet with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to review progress to make sure we are meeting its requirements.”

Hospital chief executive Paula Clark added: “Propping open fire doors will be met with the full force of sanctions. It is not acceptable.”

Serial arsonist Thomas Ashcroft started the fire in June 2017, causing £445,000 worth of damage.

Original source