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06/04/2007
Nineteen staff fall ill following 'unusual smell' at hospital
A London hospital which was forced to close its accident and emergency unit when eight employees fell ill because of an "unusual smell" has admitted that 11 other workers became unwell two days earlier.
The A&E unit at London's Royal Free Hospital was forced to close for six hours on Wednesday after eight members of staff fell ill.
The hospital confirmed that eleven other employees fell ill on Monday after noticing the smell.
In a statement, the hospital said that some of the staff had required medical treatment, but that all of those involved in the incidents were "recovering well" and had been seen by the occupational health unit.
The fire service was called to the hospital on Wednesday and parts of the lower floors of the hospital were evacuated and cordoned off as a precaution.
However, extensive investigations of the air conditioning system, the drainage system and the cleaning chemicals used in the building failed to establish a cause.
The hospital said that a brief failure of the hospital's switchboard system at the time of Wednesday's incident was thought to be coincidental.
Normal activities have now resumed at the hospital.
The Health and Safety Executive is now leading the investigation into the incidents and said that it will work closely with the Health Protection Agency.
(KMcA)
The A&E unit at London's Royal Free Hospital was forced to close for six hours on Wednesday after eight members of staff fell ill.
The hospital confirmed that eleven other employees fell ill on Monday after noticing the smell.
In a statement, the hospital said that some of the staff had required medical treatment, but that all of those involved in the incidents were "recovering well" and had been seen by the occupational health unit.
The fire service was called to the hospital on Wednesday and parts of the lower floors of the hospital were evacuated and cordoned off as a precaution.
However, extensive investigations of the air conditioning system, the drainage system and the cleaning chemicals used in the building failed to establish a cause.
The hospital said that a brief failure of the hospital's switchboard system at the time of Wednesday's incident was thought to be coincidental.
Normal activities have now resumed at the hospital.
The Health and Safety Executive is now leading the investigation into the incidents and said that it will work closely with the Health Protection Agency.
(KMcA)
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