Toasters unplugged for fire strikes

Toast could be taken off the breakfast menu

Making toast will be banned at three hospitals in Newcastle-upon-Tyne if the firefighters' strike goes ahead.

Hospital managers fear their industrial-type toasters could create false alarms and put unnecessary pressure on the Green Goddesses.

Hospital research has shown that the majority of call-outs are caused by the toasters triggering sensitive hospital alarms.

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust said it would offer a range of breakfast alternatives in wards across the region during any strikes.

We are impounding our toasters for the period of the strikes

Len Fenwick, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust

All building and maintenance work that could cause sparks will also be stopped while staff are being given extra training to help avoid fires.

Included in the ban are Newcastle General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the flagship Freeman Hospital, where heart and organs transplants are carried out.

Len Fenwick, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, said; "We are impounding our toasters for the period of the strikes.

Toaster smoke

"We cook thousands of slices every day in more than 250 toasters and the majority of incidents at our hospitals that require attendance by the Fire Service are because toasters have been left unattended and smoke from them triggers our very sensitive smoke alarms.

"It's rather silly if the Army is called out to a hospital every time a toaster sets off a smoke alarm.

"We don't feel we can put the Army, police service and ambulance service under that kind of pressure."