JUNIOR doctors staying in accommodation at the Royal Bolton Hospital are to be given extra fire training because they are not responding to fire alarms.
Fire crews have been called out to fire alarms, mostly false, at the hospital 88 times in the last six months. On the last two occasions, firefighters have been called because of pans of food being left unattended on cookers.
The hospital's fire officer, Derek Bond, has expressed concern to bosses that staff do not take alarms seriously and sometimes do not evacuate the building on hearing the alarms.
Hospital bosses are now saying that every resident must pay extra on top of their deposit that will be returned if they attend extra fire training. Basic fire training is given at every employee's induction.
A hospital spokesman said: "When people are very busy, they sometimes forget how important fire safety training is."
Spot checks for evacuations are to be carried out at the Musgrave House accommodation.
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