Fire safety concerns raised at Royal Victoria Hospital in Northern Ireland
Iain Hoey
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NIFRS raised hospital fire safety issues with Minister
Democratic Unionist Party Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA has questioned the Health Minister on reported fire safety concerns at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
According to a press release issued by the Democratic Unionist Party on 23 June 2025, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) identified longstanding fire safety issues at the site, including blocked emergency fire exits.
Dodds said that these problems had been ongoing for “at least a couple of years,” and stated that NIFRS had provided informal guidance before considering formal enforcement action.
The matter was raised after senior leaders at the Belfast Trust told the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee that no undisclosed safety concerns remained. Dodds said this assurance was contradicted by the Minister’s comments in response to her questioning.
Dodds stated that the issues could have implications for patient safety, staff wellbeing and the delivery of regional services across the site.
NIFRS enforcement policy highlights legal breach thresholds
The DUP press release cited NIFRS’s Fire Safety Enforcement Policy in outlining the potential seriousness of the situation at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Dodds said the fact that an enforcement notice was being considered suggested that the premises may be rated as “high or very high risk.”
She explained that under the enforcement policy, such notices are issued when there is a “clear breach of the law” and “serious deficiencies” are recorded.
She added that poor housekeeping and bad management are also factors that could trigger enforcement action under the NIFRS framework.
The DUP noted that decisions to take enforcement action are made by inspectors in consultation with NIFRS senior management.
Dodds said she wanted further clarity on the timeline of when the Department and the Health Minister became aware of the risks and what specific measures have been taken.
Patient relocation and further risks under consideration
Dodds said she was seeking clarity on whether the Department of Health or Belfast Trust had considered relocating patients within the Royal Victoria Hospital site or to other hospitals within the Trust.
She questioned whether NIFRS concerns extended beyond fire exit access and might involve other fire safety risks across the hospital premises.
The DUP press release emphasised the Royal Victoria Hospital’s role as the largest hospital in Northern Ireland, providing regional services.
Dodds stated that any disruption caused by fire safety issues could affect acute care delivery and increase waiting times.
She said that the potential for enforcement action indicated the scale of concern within the fire service.
HSENI also notified of workplace risk concerns
Dodds said she understood the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) had also been informed of the fire safety issues at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The DUP press release quoted paragraph 2.5 of the NIFRS Enforcement Policy, which states that NIFRS will notify relevant authorities when dangerous conditions or practices are observed in a workplace.
Dodds said this suggested that concerns may extend beyond fire safety alone, with workplace safety considerations also being assessed by other regulators.
The DUP did not confirm whether HSENI had initiated its own investigation but said that its involvement demonstrated the seriousness of the findings.
Minister yet to clarify departmental actions taken
Dodds said she would continue to press the Department of Health for information on when the issues were first raised and how they have been addressed.
She asked whether a formal plan had been developed to ensure patient safety while remediation took place.
The DUP stated that the Minister’s comments marked the first time these fire safety concerns had been made public, despite previous questioning of Belfast Trust executives at committee level.
Dodds called for full transparency regarding risk mitigation measures and next steps to resolve the safety breaches at the hospital.
She said that until formal enforcement action is taken or risks are removed, there remained a need for scrutiny and accountability from the department and the Trust.
Fire safety concerns raised at Royal Victoria Hospital in Northern Ireland: Summary
Diane Dodds MLA raised fire safety concerns with the Health Minister regarding the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The Democratic Unionist Party reported that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service identified blocked emergency fire exits at the hospital.
These concerns have reportedly existed for over two years.
NIFRS provided informal advice to the Belfast Trust before considering formal enforcement action.
The NIFRS Fire Safety Enforcement Policy outlines that enforcement notices may be issued when there are serious legal breaches.
Dodds said this suggests the hospital may be rated as high or very high risk.
She also raised concerns about the potential impact on acute care and waiting times.
The Democratic Unionist Party reported that the Health and Safety Executive has been notified of the situation.
Dodds questioned whether patient relocation had been considered.
She requested full disclosure from the Department of Health and Belfast Trust regarding when the risks were identified.
The Democratic Unionist Party said the Minister’s recent statement was the first public confirmation of the fire safety issues.
Dodds stated that accountability was needed to address the concerns raised by NIFRS.