Anger over NHS alarms nuisance (From York Press)

Anger over NHS alarms nuisance

8:15am Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

ANGRY residents living close to York Hospital say they are being disturbed at all hours by alarms going off on NHS buildings.

The hospital confirmed it was looking into written complaints about the problem from a householder in Union Terrace, while another resident of the street contacted The Press to say the problem had been going on for more than a year.

The resident, who identified himself as Andy, said: “It sounds like its a burglar alarm. There are several buildings in the area and there seem to be six alarms in the vicinity.

“They may be going off during the day, but I know they are certainly going off at night. The last time was last Thursday at about nine or 10 at night,” he said.

“Once a resident from the street got so fed up with it he climbed up and started to hit it with a hammer.”

He said residents had spoken to the hospital and were told the matter was “being looked in to”.

“Nobody seems to do anything,” he said. “You speak to someone and they just seem to pass the problem on.”

The area close to Union Terrace is home to several buildings with links to the hospital and North Yorkshire and York NHS Foundation Trust.

These include the headquarters of York Hospital Radio and the derelict former nursing accommodation, though it is unclear where the disturbances are coming from.

A spokesperson for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “The residents of Union Terrace have raised their concerns with the Trust and we have been in contact with them to agree what areas need further discussion.”