Don't skimp on Fire safety

NHS Forth Valley has been urged not to skimp on safety on the issue of sprinklers in the new acute hospital being built in Larbert.

That was the message from SNP Councillor, Lynda Kenna, chair of the Central Scotland Joint Fire Board.

Councillor Kenna was supported by the local branch of the Fire Fighters trade union, the FBU, who have called for a rethink after the local Health Board announced they would not be fitting life saving sprinklers in the hospital.

Sid Cllr Kenna,

"What we are seeing is the impact of PFI on public services where corners have to be cut to provide the private contractor with a higher profit level.

That is unacceptable in this day and age and I would urge Ian Mullen and his team to reconsider this stance and change the contract to ensure that potential life saving sprinklers are included within the final contract."

Despite the fact Falkirk Council's four new secondary schools currently being constructed under the previous SNP led Administration's school building programme are being fitted with sprinklers Falkirk Council's representative on the Health Board, Linda Gow, has refused to support the SNP and FBU on the same provision for our hospital.

Commenting on this Cllr Kenna said,

"The double standards of Labour Councillors on this matter shouldn't come as a surprise. They were the party who insisted that the hospital be build as a private concern and so need to be seen to defend both the drawbacks and cutbacks PFI brings.

Compare the comfort zone that Mrs Gow has slipped into with the campaigning zeal of Falkirk Council's last representative on the Health Board and we see the real difference between Labour and the SNP."

So far the Labour Group Leader, Linda Gow, has refused to bring a report to Falkirk Council on the matter of the lack of sprinklers. Events could be taken outwith her hands with a full council meeting planned for December 5 and a highly motivated SNP opposition. Watch this space for more news.