The funding came after Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service extended its enforcement notice deadline for the hospital from 6 November to 18 December.

The enforcement notice asks the trust to put actions in place to reduce the numbers of patients on each floor, increase the number of staff capable of completing an evacuation and to assess any dependencies patients may have and relocate those who would be difficult to evacuate to a more appropriate location.  

Gerald Taylor, deputy chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘As a regulator of the Fire Safety Order, we have a duty to ensure that public buildings have precautions in place to protect people if there is a fire.

‘Torbay Hospital must address these issues and make sure that the people under their care have every chance of escape should a fire occur in the building.

‘We will continue to work with the trust to make sure the breaches in fire safety are rectified as soon as possible.'

The CQC has also inspected the building and issued a warning notice.  

A CQC spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of the issues relating to people's safety, in the event of a fire evacuation, in the wards and departments in the Tower Block managed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. CQC undertook an inspection in September which included the surgery service which has wards based on two floors of the Tower Block at Torbay Hospital. 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.'

Joe Teape, chief executive, said: ‘There are no easy answers when managing some of the oldest NHS estate in the country or making changes of this kind.

‘We now have the further investment we need to carry out the compartmentalisation work in the tower and a practical way forward that keeps services within Torbay and South Devon.'

The funding followed a campaign by local MPs.

Steve Darling MP for Torbay said: ‘It is excellent news that we have secured the necessary funding for the Tower Block at Torbay Hospital from NHS England's regional team. This will allow the trust to carry out the fire safety work needed while protecting as much hospital capacity as safely possible.

‘However, serious questions need to be asked about why it took a crisis to break at Torbay Hospital for this money to be released.'