Asbestos News
Welsh operating rooms closed after asbestos discovery
Six operating rooms at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Wales are expected to be closed for 14 months starting in March after asbestos was discovered recently in some of the facilities' hallways and ceilings, WalesOnline reports.The dangerous material was reportedly used in the construction of the hospital, which originally opened in 1980, according to the news provider.
"Plans are currently being drawn up to ensure that emergency and elective surgery will continue despite the disruption, and these plans should be finalized by the end of January," said a spokeswoman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which runs the hospital. "Medical staff are leading the planning to make sure patients can access care as needed whilst this important and much needed work is done."
The spokeswoman added that the asbestos removal work is necessary to ensure the health of patients and hospital staff.
Exposure to asbestos has been proven to cause a number of deadly diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 107,000 people around the world die each year as a result of asbestos-related illnesses.
1/10/11
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