Expert Flags Fire and Structural Safety Concerns at Barbados' Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The structural expert also pointed out fire safety deficiencies at the QEH, including a lack of fire doors for compartmentalisation and an absence of sprinklers on the wards.

“I think people will die if there is a fire in that hospital,” he warned. “But things can be done about it.”

Gibbs, who designed the Tom Adams Financial Centre housing the Central Bank of Barbados, noted that while the original 1964 structure forms the bulk of the QEH, there have been some additions.

“There have been some additions since then which probably are as good as the 1964 building,” he noted, referring to newer sections like the Lions Eye Care Centre and an extension on the western side.

But these additions do little to reduce the overall fire risk, according to the engineer.

He stressed that modern hospital design standards emphasise building facilities that eliminate the need for evacuation during fires.

This is typically achieved through a combination of sprinklers, compartmentalisation, and careful selection of construction materials.

“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital needs some work done for fire protection. The wards are not separated with fire doors, so you can’t compartmentalise the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” Gibbs explained.

“We can reasonably be talking about installing sprinklers which would be expensive, but not as expensive as human lives. And we could compartmentalise it. You could do horizontal evacuation from the area which is on fire to another part of the same floor which is not on fire.”

Drawing on his extensive experience assessing Caribbean hospitals for the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Gibbs expressed surprise that even newer hospitals in the region, such as the Mount St John’s Medical Centre in Antigua, have incorporated necessary fire safety features like fire-rated doors, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems.

“So, even a Third World country can do it; must do it,” he said.

But while the QEH’s Chief Executive said management accepted that the hospital’s infrastructure is dated, he drew attention to the PAHO study and other mitigating measures to improve safety at the medical facility.

“It is important to note that the Pan-American Health Organisation conducts periodic assessments on hospitals regionally and in September 2023, the agency conducted its Safe and Green Assessment at the QEH,” Clark said.

“From this most recent assessment, PAHO’s Safe Hospital Index rating for the QEH is a B.

“In addition to this, the QEH routinely conducts inspection and maintenance programmes, and simulation exercises to test the hospitals preparedness and response to incidents that may arise as a consequence of the facilities’ age.”

The hospital boss, who has been on the job since March, stated that almost a year ago, the QEH’s fire response mechanisms were tested and its teams, with assistance from the Barbados Fire Service, were able to contain the situation.

Clark also suggested that the concerns highlighted by structural engineer Gibbs could also be resolved by building a new hospital.

“While these mitigation measures and contingencies have been established across the QEH to protect patients and staff, there is acknowledgement from management that a new hospital with modern design would also address the concerns raised by Mr Gibbs,” the CEO declared.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb