Fire brigade staff who dealt with Grenfell Tower tragedy have taken nearly 5,000 days off for PTSD

FIRE brigade staff who dealt with the Grenfell Tower tragedy have taken almost 5,000 days off work with PTSD. A total of 17 London Fire Brigade workers have now been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. They include 14 firefighters and three 999 control room operators. Five staff have been retired from service because of the […]

FIRE brigade staff who dealt with the Grenfell Tower tragedy have taken almost 5,000 days off work with PTSD.

A total of 17 London Fire Brigade workers have now been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

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17 London Fire Brigade workers have now been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder[/caption]

They include 14 firefighters and three 999 control room operators.

Five staff have been retired from service because of the psychological damage suffered.

In total 72 people died in the fire at the 24-storey block of flats in North Kensington, West London, in June 2019.

More than 250 firefighters ­battled to put it out. All those who attended were later given a psychological health check.

And the brigade has revealed that so far 234 people have been seen by its counselling and trauma service for problems directly related to the fire.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed a total of 4,525 working days have been lost to firefighters needing sick leave because of PTSD brought on by the inferno.

Another 446 have been lost from 999 control room staff who were working that night.

The brigade said: “The welfare of our firefighters and control officers who worked at Grenfell remains an absolute priority.

“We continue to monitor and support those staff who need help. An on-call counsellor is also available to all staff around the clock.”