TWO of the North-East's best known hospitals have failed cladding fire safety tests in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

NHS Improvement said Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had found a small area on the Freeman Hospital, and a small area on the Royal Victoria Infirmary, which are of concern.

The trust has instigated additional fire warden patrols and are being supported by NHS Improvement to take urgent steps to ensure fire safety, in line with updated guidance.

A spokesman for Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "The safety of our patients, staff and visitors is our number one priority so we are working closely with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Improvement to ensure additional fire safety checks are completed.

"Samples of cladding have been taken from our sites and sent for testing.

"This sampling has found a small area on the Freeman Hospital and a small area on the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), which are of concern, so there are plans to remove and replace the cladding. The areas in question are not inpatient sections of the hospitals."

All NHS trusts and foundation trusts have been asked to carry out urgent fire safety checks following the tragedy.

NHS Improvement has now identified 40 organisations as needing tests to ascertain if they had cladding similar to that used on the tower.

Nineteen were stood down requiring no further action at this time, having had fire safety inspections and supplied technical information to the organisation.

Fourteen required no further action at this stage having had building material samples discounted by the Building Research Establishment.