Tower Block, Torbay Hospital

Published: 14 October 2026

Torbay Hospital is among some of the country’s oldest NHS estate and the Tower Block is an ageing building with known estate and fire safety risks linked to its age, design and condition. These risks have been actively managed over time through maintenance, practical safety measures, staff training, evacuation planning and ongoing investment.

The safety of our staff, patients and visitors remains our priority and we have strengthened safety measures, alongside £1.8 million of government funding for further fire safety improvements.

As part of our ongoing work with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service we have received a formal enforcement notice relating to evacuation arrangements on floors 4 to 8 of the Tower Block.

The CQC also undertook an inspection in September and October, which included the surgery services based in the Tower Block. As a result of concerns found at that inspection, CQC has proposed taking regulatory action for the oversight of fire safety processes, which the trust has the right to appeal. Details of any action taken, will be included in the inspection report when it publishes on CQC’s website.

We are fully committed to meeting the requirements of the notice and continue to work closely with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the Care Quality Commission, NHS England and system partners on a plan to temporarily relocate some services based in the Tower Block to other locations in Torbay Hospital and to Trust sites in our communities. This will help us to reduce the number of inpatients being cared for in parts of the Tower Block, ensure that we can safely evacuate the building in the event of fire and create the space needed for further fire safety improvements to be carried out safely.

While our immediate focus is on fire safety, this work is taking place alongside our wider improvements designed to help people receive the right care in the right place, with the best possible outcomes and experience, both in hospital and in the community.