Torbay Hospital told to improve fire safety procedures in tower block after inspection
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has issued Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust with an enforcement notice for fire safety breaches
Last updated 14th Oct 2026
Torbay hospital has been told it must make urgent fire safety improvements after inspections from both fire and health regulators.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has issued Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust with an enforcement notice.
The trust has until Friday 6th November to make the improvements.
The notice was issued under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
It relates to floors four to eight of the Tower Block at the hospital.
What inspectors found
Fire Safety Inspectors carried out an inspection in July 2026, following concerns raised to the service.
They found changes were needed to provide enough escape routes for people in the event of a fire.
The trust must also have robust evacuation strategies in place, so everyone can be evacuated from the upper floors of the tower.
The Care Quality Commission has also inspected the building and issued a warning notice.
Both notices are subject to appeal.
What the trust has been asked to do
The enforcement notice asks the trust to reduce the number of patients on each floor.
It also asks the trust to increase the number of staff capable of completing an evacuation and assess any dependencies patients may have, and to move those who would be difficult to evacuate to a more appropriate location.
Gerald Taylor, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“In the event of a fire, seconds count. People being treated within the Tower Block are often in circumstances that make it difficult for them to evacuate, and the building itself would make this harder.
“As a regulator of the Fire Safety Order, we have a duty to ensure that public buildings have precautions in place to protect people if there is a fire.
“Torbay Hospital must address these issues and make sure that the people under their care have every chance of escape should a fire occur in the building.
“We will continue to work with the trust to make sure the breaches in fire safety are rectified as soon as possible."
Trust's response
A Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “Torbay Hospital is among some of the country’s oldest NHS estate and the Tower Block is an ageing building with known estate and fire safety risks linked to its age, design and condition These risks have been actively managed over time through maintenance, practical safety measures, staff training, evacuation planning and ongoing investment.
The safety of our staff, patients and visitors remains our priority and we have strengthened safety measures, alongside £1.8 million of government funding for further fire safety improvements.
As part of our ongoing work with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service we have received a formal enforcement notice relating to evacuation arrangements on floors 4 to 8 of the Tower Block.
The CQC also undertook an inspection in September and October, which included the surgery services based in the Tower Block. As a result of concerns found at that inspection, CQC has proposed taking regulatory action for the oversight of fire safety processes, which the trust has the right to appeal. Details of any action taken, will be included in the inspection report when it publishes on CQC’s website.
We are fully committed to meeting the requirements of the notice and continue to work closely with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the Care Quality Commission, NHS England and system partners on a plan to temporarily relocate some services based in the Tower Block to other locations in Torbay Hospital and to Trust sites in our communities. This will help us to reduce the number of inpatients being cared for in parts of the Tower Block, ensure that we can safely evacuate the building in the event of fire and create the space needed for further fire safety improvements to be carried out safely.
While our immediate focus is on fire safety, this work is taking place alongside our wider improvements designed to help people receive the right care in the right place, with the best possible outcomes and experience, both in hospital and in the community.”