Cladding on the tower block at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital will be tested for fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, but hospital bosses have said it is “low risk”.

It comes after last month’s tragedy in North Kensington – after which an estimated 80 people remain unaccounted for – led to claims the building’s cladding failed to meet fire safety regulations.

Councils across the UK have since been urged to submit high-rise cladding samples to the Government, but other buildings such as hospitals are also being assessed.

At the Coreys Mill Lane hospital, the cladding on the main tower block will be tested, but the process will take some time as it is not deemed to be high risk.

A spokesman for the North East Herts NHS Trust which runs the hospital, said: “With regard to the Lister, independent inspections undertaken to date on the Lister tower block’s main cladding deem it to pose a low risk.

“Work is now getting underway between the trust, local fire service and the Government’s testing laboratories to agree what next steps may be required.”

He also confirmed the 14-story building has five staircases as means of escape, as well as a top level alarm system, sprinklers, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers on all floors.

Stevenage also has seven tower blocks owned by Stevenage Borough Council.

Safety procedures have been reviewed on these blocks and the council says they meet all the necessary fire safety standards.

They do not have external cladding.