Hospital in fire check

Busselton Health Campus is being investigated for potentially flammable cladding as part of a Statewide review triggered by London’s Grenfell tower tragedy.

The Health Department is working with the Building Commission in investigating 12 hospitals for the cladding, which resulted in the Grenfell fire’s rapid spread and the death of 72 people.

An investigation of Rockingham General Hospital has already been completed and “interim” measures put in place, and investigations of others hospitals are due to wind up mid-September.

“Any hospital identified as having non-compliant cladding materials will then by subject to a Preliminary Fire Risk Assessment and appropriate fire preparedness measures will be adopted in the interim,” a Health Department spokeswoman said.

“The extent of the required remediation works, such as scope, cost and remediation time frame, will be undertaken on a progressive basis, with the final facility report completed for early next year.”

The cost to taxpayers will not be known until after the reviews are completed.

It could be another blow to the young hospital, which was officially opened in 2015 by then-premier Colin Barnett and former health minister Kim Hames.

Remedial works to faulty ceiling and wall panels were carried out in 2016 and a WA Country Health Service spokeswoman this week confirmed: “At some stage there may be some minor changes to the triage area but this is yet to be determined,” she said.

“Generally speaking, any redevelopment work is managed as to not impact service delivery,” she said.