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Asbestos in hospitals is ‘not a risk’

TRACES of asbestos have been found in the loft space areas of several hospitals across Powys.

But health officials have refused to name all of the hospitals concerned, saying it is a Powys-wide problem which "poses no risk to patients and visitors".

The revelation came after several day classes had to be cancelled at Newtown Hospital earlier this week because asbestos removal work was being carried out.

A Powys Local Health Board (LHB) spokesman confirmed that work to remove asbestos at the hospital, in Llanfair Road, Newtown, was being carried out. It was an ongoing problem at several hospitals across Powys, but he refused to be drawn into naming the other hospitals.

An LHB spokesman said: "Powys Local Health Board commissioned a detailed survey 18 months ago with a specialist contractor, to ascertain what areas of its hospitals contained asbestos and how it could be removed safely."

"The presence of asbestos is common in buildings of this age and this is not a unique issue only affecting Powys Local health Board".

"It is also important to stress that none of the asbestos located in the hospitals poses a risk to patients and visitors and if any work staff need to be in an area where asbestos is located (eg the loft space) they are given the appropriate safety equipment and apparatus".

"The LHB apologises to any patients who had day classes cancelled as asbestos removal work was carried out, but this was necessary in order to cordon off areas affected".

"This is an ongoing problem across several hospitals across Powys and we are carrying out removal work as quickly as possible at the relevant hospitals but again we must stress that there is no risk to patients, visitors or staff"

Although asbestos is hazardous, human risk of asbestos disease depends upon exposure.