CJD emergency phoneline closes

A dedicated emergency hotline for people concerned they may have contracted CJD after a major scandal at Beaumont Hospital has been shut down.

A spokesperson confirmed the emergency number was closed last night after a sharp drop-off in calls.

The phoneline was initially set up on Friday after it emerged between 10 and 20 people may have been contaminated with the lethal illness — which has no cure — at Beaumont’s neurological unit.