Working with NHS to enhance the safety of patients

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have signed a partnership agreement with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to enable NHS practitioners to refer patients for free home fire safety visits.

The agreement came after the formation of the multiagency Bariatric and plus size working group which was looking at how the NHS and Fire Service could work together to help vulnerable people.

The agreement has resulted in fire officers from the prevention team in South Devon carrying out “trigger point” training for NHS staff to help them identify and reduce the risk of fire in the patient’s home and refer them on to the fire service for free home fire safety visits.

The visit carried out by the fire service includes the fitting of smoke detectors and other equipment such as fire retardant bedding and extension leads where it reduces risk. Patients are advised about how to reduce risk, bedtime routines and escape plans.

Dave Roddy, lead for the fire service, said: “The working group was formed after an incident involving a plus size patient occurred in Torbay. The group meet regularly to work at improving partnership work and one of the outcomes has been this agreement.”

Dave went on to say that: “We are delighted to be able to receive referrals from NHS practitioners in Torbay and South Devon as they can really help us reduce risk to potentially vulnerable patients in their homes.”

Learn more about how our emergency services are developing new service delivery models by attending the Congress on Reimagining the Emergency Services on November 16, at West Midlands Fire Servcie HQ, Birmingham. This brings together the fire and rescue service, the police and ambulance service to discuss and develop a new blueprint for an integrated service delivery model for the emergency services.