confinedspaceFire officers from Tyne and Wear have reinforced a national agreement to provide advice to a national NHS body on how to keep their organisation and services safe from fire.

Under the recently renewed Primary Authority scheme Tyne and Wear Fire and
Rescue Service provides fire safety advice to NHS Property Services Ltd (NHSPS) which manages, maintains and improves more than 4,000 properties, working in
partnership with the NHS and other health organisations

As part of the agreement the Service provides advice and assurance on how to comply with fire safety legislation, whilst also assisting local fire and rescue services when carrying out fire audits at NHSPS premises.

Primary Authority Officer Ian Bell said: “I am delighted that we have worked with NHSPS on a number of key areas for fire safety. We look forward to further developing the benefits and opportunities this new agreement brings.”

The partnership agreement was officially signed by Kevin Gardner, the fire and rescue service’s Area Manager for Community Safety, and Stuart Hammerton, National Head of Health, Safety, Security and Fire at NHSPS.

Hammerton added: “As a landlord and management company for a number of different
buildings across England, we are committed to ensuring our premises are safe for our tenants, staff and visitors, and the Primary Authority scheme helps us in achieving this.

“In recognising the benefits of the scheme across a number of categories, we saw Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as a provider of consistent and reliable advice for fire safety that would support and enhance our commitment to compliance.”