Queen Elizabeth Hospital faces scrutiny over fire safety defects

Combustible materials and missing or incorrectly installed fire barriers have been identified at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, raising concerns about how quickly a fire could spread through parts of the building.

Surveys of the hospital’s external walls and cladding also identified design features that could allow flames to move between parallel wings. A report considered by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust warned that the combined deficiencies created the potential for serious injury, loss of life and major disruption to clinical services.

The London Fire Brigade has raised concerns about the pace of the proposed remediation programme and could consider enforcement action if progress is judged insufficient. The trust has commissioned a more detailed assessment to establish the full extent of the work required, with the study expected to be completed by March 2027. Remedial work is currently expected to continue until 2029.

Separate concerns were identified at St Nicholas House, a residential block on the hospital campus, including problems with fire doors. All but one of its 67 tenants have been relocated. Fire risk assessments, evacuation planning and the maintenance of alarms and fire doors have also been reviewed across the trust’s other premises, including Lewisham Hospital.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust said enhanced safety measures were already in place and were being regularly reviewed while a permanent solution was developed with the building owner. It said it was working with the fire brigade and remained confident that the current arrangements were effectively managing the risks to patients, staff and visitors.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital was developed through a private finance agreement, and the trust has been involved in a long-running dispute with the contractor responsible for maintaining the site over the condition of the building.

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