Now hospitals to check all facilities built by firm

SEVERAL hospitals and health facilities that used the construction firm Western Building Systems to build new units and extensions said yesterday there were no current safety concerns, but further checks are to be carried out as a precaution.

They are to commission their own structural engineers to survey the buildings.

It comes as several schools are to close to allow for checks to be carried out on work by the Tyrone-based firm.

It was confirmed yesterday that several hospitals employed the firm, including Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin, Beaumont Hospital, St James’s Hospital, as well as the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

It was involved in building the long-awaited cystic fibrosis unit in Beaumont Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said it currently had no safety concerns at this time about the state of the buildings carried out by Western Buildings Systems.

It carried out an initial review and it would “appear that a different form of construction is involved”.

However, the HSE is to carry out a “comprehensive assessment of the relevant healthcare facilities to provide complete assurance”.

A spokeswoman for St James’s Hospital in Dublin said it has reviewed all recent construction contracts on-site and can confirm that the facilities management building was built by Western Building Systems.

She said the compliance registration was completed by the assigned certifier and design consultants for this construction.

“It should also be noted that the facilities management building was constructed with different methods to the school fast-track system,” she added.

Our Lady’s Children’s Hos- pital, Crumlin, has confirmed that there were no safety concerns at this time regarding the integrity of its buildings in relation to construction works carried out by Western Buildings Systems.

The Royal Hospital Donnybrook said it was aware of the issue and carrying out its own investigation.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) said it built a new block adjacent to existing buildings at its centre on the grounds of St Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork in 2004. A spokeswoman said the construction was carried out by Western Building Systems.

“There have been no structural issues with the building.

“As a precautionary measure, the IBTS is arranging for a structural engineer to carry out a survey of the building,” said a spokeswoman.

Western Buildings Systems did not respond to queries about the type of construction involved in the health facilities. It features “award-winning healthcare facilities and buildings” on its website, including work it has done for the NHS as well as commercial companies and homes.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said that it currently had no safety concerns