Fire Risk Assessment for GP Surgeries: Your Complete Guide

Why GP Surgeries Need a Fire Risk Assessment

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every non-domestic premises must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. GP surgeries are no exception. As a surgery owner, practice manager, or designated responsible person, you are legally required to identify fire hazards, assess who may be at risk, and put appropriate safety measures in place.

GP surgeries present particular challenges: vulnerable patients, high footfall, clinical equipment, and often older buildings not originally designed for healthcare use. A thorough fire risk assessment helps you meet your legal duty while protecting staff, patients, and visitors.

Who Is the Responsible Person?

Under the RRO 2005, the responsible person is typically the employer, the person in control of the premises, or the owner. In a GP surgery, this is usually the practice manager, a senior partner, or the NHS trust responsible for the building. This person must ensure:

• A fire risk assessment is carried out and regularly reviewed
• Fire safety measures are implemented and maintained
• Staff receive adequate fire safety training
• Emergency plans are in place and communicated

Failure to comply can result in enforcement notices, prohibition notices, and in serious cases, prosecution.

What a Fire Risk Assessment Covers

A competent fire risk assessment for a GP surgery follows the five-step approach recommended by HSE and fire safety guidance:

1. Identify fire hazards — sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen. In a surgery, this includes electrical equipment, clinical gases, paper records, cleaning chemicals, and kitchen areas.

2. Identify people at risk — including patients with mobility issues, elderly visitors, staff working alone, and anyone unfamiliar with the building layout.

3. Evaluate, remove, or reduce risks — assessing existing fire precautions such as fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, fire doors, and extinguishers. Where risks cannot be removed, suitable control measures must be introduced.

4. Record findings, prepare an emergency plan, and provide training — if five or more people are employed, significant findings must be recorded. All staff should understand evacuation procedures.

5. Review regularly — assessments should be reviewed after any significant change, such as building alterations, changes in occupancy, or following a fire incident.

Specific Risks in GP Surgeries

GP surgeries face fire risks that differ from standard office environments. Key areas of concern include:

• Clinical rooms and treatment areas — oxygen storage, flammable skin preparations, and electrical medical devices
• Waiting rooms — high numbers of unfamiliar people who may need assistance evacuating
• Storage areas — paper records, cleaning supplies, and waste materials that increase fire loading
• Kitchen and staff areas — cooking equipment and electrical appliances
• Compartmentation — many surgeries occupy converted buildings where fire-stopping between walls and floors may be inadequate

Patients with reduced mobility, respiratory conditions, or sensory impairments require particular consideration when planning evacuation. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) may be necessary for regular patients who need assistance.

How Often Should You Review Your Assessment?

The law does not specify a fixed review period, but best practice — consistent with PAS 79 guidance — is to review your fire risk assessment annually or whenever there is a significant change to the premises, its use, or the occupants. A full reassessment is typically recommended every two to four years, depending on the complexity of the premises.

Why Use a Professional Assessor?

While the responsible person can carry out the assessment themselves, HSE guidance stresses that the person must be competent to do so. Given the specific risks in healthcare settings, many GP surgeries choose to instruct a qualified professional. An experienced assessor will identify hazards that may be overlooked, ensure compliance with current standards, and provide a clear, actionable report.

HawkSwift provides fire risk assessments from £199 + VAT, carried out by NEBOSH-qualified assessors with experience across healthcare premises. Reports are delivered within 5 working days, giving you the documentation you need to demonstrate compliance.

Take the Next Step

If your GP surgery's fire risk assessment is overdue or you are unsure whether it meets current legal requirements, HawkSwift can help. Book a fire risk assessment today to get your surgery compliant and your patients protected.