A confidential government report seen by Community Care reveals “serious deficiencies” in the fire safety of a PFI-built psychiatric hospital in Leeds, writes Simeon Brody.

The fire safety review carried out by NHS Estates into the Newsam Centre, built just three years ago, identifies shortcomings in all five areas of official NHS fire safety guidance.

The report criticises the “poor” design and construction of the £47 million building, based at Seacroft Hospital, as well as its fire safety documentation, operation and management.

Patient bedrooms do not have the expected fire resistance time of 30 minutes despite it being “generally accepted that patient bedrooms in mental health facilities present a higher fire risk than in other building where sleeping accommodation is provided,” the report says.

The report concludes: “The design of the premises falls short of the standard expected for a building put to the use of an inpatient centre for those with mental illness or learning difficulties.”

Trade union Amicus has called for an inquiry into the findings of the report. Area organiser Terry Cunliffe said he understood the building did not meet the required standards because it was built as a patient “hotel” rather than an in-patient ward.

“My concern is they’ve built it on the cheap. It puts patients and staff at risk and it’s unacceptable,” he said.

It is expected hundreds of thousands of pounds to bring the centre up to the required standard but Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust which runs Newsam said it had not been decided whether it or its PFI partners would meet the cost.

A trust spokesperson said it had arranged for the inspection itself but maintained the centre was safe and had been approved by West Yorkshire fire service. He said its fire safety standards exceeded those for a patient hotel.