Hospital staff are being asked if they have suffered any ill effects after the potential leak of fumes from the preparation of chemotherapy treatments, the Health Services Authority said on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the HSA said that the hospital was “not aware of any specific illnesses” but that it was “engaging with staff to determine whether anyone has concerns”.
The hospital declined to identify what chemicals may have been released into the atmosphere in the pharmacy at the newly renamed Anthony S. Eden Hospital in George Town or how toxic they might be.
Officials were asked what the fumes and the potential risks of exposure were.
The spokesperson replied only that the fumes were produced as chemotherapy medicine was made.
“Potential risks are linked to the individual substances that staff within the pharmacy may have been exposed to, based on the their tasks performed,” she said, adding, “The pharmacy department contains a firewall between other departments, therefore, the potential exposure is limited to staff working in the pharmacy only.
“We are categorising staff into different risk groups based on their specific tasks performed.
“There is no potential exposure to patients visiting the pharmacy.”
The former George Town Hospital revealed earlier this month that pharmacy equipment designed to vent fumes away during the preparation of chemotherapy treatments – powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells, most commonly used to combat cancer – had not been connected to the external ventilation system.
Officials were also unable to say how long the problem had existed.
The HSA spokesperson said, “It is not clear whether significant levels of dust and vapours were released since the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system is meant to capture most substances.”
The pharmacy was shut down as soon as the leak was discovered and is still closed.
Lizzette Yearwood, the HSA CEO, said at the time that the organisation’s “highest priority” was the welfare of staff and patients.
An investigation into the incident was launched and the HSA said an outside expert had been recruited to “ensure the integrity of the investigation and any future remediation steps”.
Yearwood added, “We are giving this matter our full attention and are taking all necessary steps to investigate the issue thoroughly and transparently.”
Prescriptions can be filled at the main pharmacy at the HSA’s Smith Road Medical Centre and also at district health centres while the hospital pharmacy is shut.
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