Building at Sheffield Children's Hospital fails fire cladding test

A building at Sheffield Children's Hospital has failed fire tests carried out in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

All NHS trusts and foundation trusts were asked to carry out urgent fire safety checks following the tragedy last month.

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust says it’s taking steps to remove cladding from the top two storeys of the Stephenson Wing on Western Bank, after tests found it isn’t the low-risk material required.

It says the affected area is not used for inpatient accommodation.

In a statement, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust said: "After sending samples of the cladding on our Stephenson Wing for fire safety testing, we have identified material that we will be removing. We are investigating ways to do this as soon as possible.

Staff who work in this area are also receiving enhanced fire safety training, and we are working closely with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to make sure everything is in place to protect the safety of our patients and staff.

All fire alarms are fully updated and evacuation procedures in line with best practice.

We can assure families that the hospital remains a safe place to visit.''

Cladding from 190 high-rise buildings has also failed the tests rolled out by the Government following the blaze, which killed at least 80 people.

Every sample sent in from around the country so far has been found to be combustible, continuing the 100 per cent failure rate, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said in its latest update.

The 190 buildings, a combination of private and council-owned, are located across 51 local authority areas - including one in Doncaster and one in Sheffield.