Two-thirds of Grenfell survivors display signs of PTSD, report finds

More than 2,000 adults – including survivors, relatives and locals – screened for evidence of trauma

Two out of three adults who survived or were affected by the Grenfell Tower fire have shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new report.

The document, written by health experts for Kensington and Chelsea council, says more than 2,200 adults were screened for PTSD by the end of June, including survivors, relatives of victims and locals.

About 67 per cent of those were found to require treatment for the condition, significantly higher than NHS estimates that one in three people experience PTSD when involved in a traumatic event.

But the report cautioned that the figures were not definitive and that further research was needed following the “unprecedented” disaster.

More than a third of adults declined to be screened for trauma, the report added, while authorities were working alongside schools to carry out a “screen and treat” programme for children.

Experts also cited a further danger in secondary trauma – psychological distress that occurs from indirect exposure to a traumatic event – which can affect people supporting victims, or those who have been exposed to repeated discussion of the incident.

Natasha Elcock, of the Grenfell United group of survivors and bereaved, told The Guardian it was unsurprising so many people were experiencing trauma.

“It has affected our whole community,” she said. “It was a hugely traumatic experience, on the night and the days and weeks after.”

The report was made public the same day a watch manager told a public inquiry into the blaze how fire crews “lost the battle” against the building.

Once the cladding caught alight, crews would not have been able to keep up with its rapid spread no matter how many more boots were on the ground, Paul Watson, watch manager at Hammersmith fire station, said.

He also described being unable to activate an automatic fire alarm throughout the building, poor radio reception and being “a bit confused” by the system of passing on 999 call information.

In a written statement to the public inquiry, Mr Watson said: “Once the fire caught the cladding, and surrounded the building, we could have had a lot more firefighters on the ground but we wouldn’t have put that job out. It moved so fast.

“The building didn’t do its job and the building beat us. I came away thinking that we lost the battle and the building beat us. I know we saved a lot of people but I know we lost a lot of people.

“I came away from a low on that job as although we did the best we could, circumstances, particularly the building, beat us.”

Additional reporting by agencies