Managers at 1,000-bed University Hospital of North Staffordshire decided to switch off toasters in every kitchen ward - for fear of triggering a fire alarm - during the 24-hour walkout
University Hospital of North Staffordshire Photo: Paul Pickard/ Alamy
8:10PM BST 17 Jun 2014
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Toast was taken off the breakfast menu for hospital patients as a unexpected
consequence of last week's fire-fighter strike.
Managers at 1,000-bed University Hospital of North Staffordshire decided to
switch off toasters in every kitchen ward - for fear of triggering a fire
alarm - during the 24-hour walkout.
Patients were forced to opt for cereal, porridge, or simply go without, while
the fire service ran a reduced service as a result of a dispute over
pensions.
Antony Wood, who was being cared for on the hospital's cardiac ward, was
denied his favourite-toast and-marmalade by staff, who said toasters were
not being used on 'health and safety' grounds.
A spokesman for the hospital said that its fire safety manager had decided to
switch off the toasters as a precaution during the strike.
