‘No logic’ to asbestos removal at hospital

The HSE has been accused of costing taxpayers’ needless money by ploughing ahead with asbestos removal at a psychiatric hospital in Co Cork.

Psychiatric Nurses Association sources have expressed “bewilderment” at the need to remove the asbestos at the unit before it closes today for a complete refurbishment.

Work has been continuing for nearly two weeks to remove the asbestos from Unit 3 at St Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire, with the patients remaining in situ.

Amid fears the work would upset patients, the PNA has claimed extra staff have been employed for supervision purposes.

They claim overtime is being given to permanent staff and agency staff are also being hired.

“So this is an extra cost to the taxpayer. There is no logic for this. To say it’s bewildering is putting it mildly,” a PNA source said.

“It’s also needless to upset patients when the HSE could have waited until the unit was closed for total refurbishment on April 28 and the patients moved out to another building.”

The HSE was asked why it didn’t wait.

In a lengthy statement, the HSE said it was a requirement an asbestos survey report would be carried out prior to any proposed refurbishment works and this was carried out by OHSS Safety Consultants at the hospital.

“The report identifies the possibility of asbestos being present in the bitumen under some of the existing floor coverings.

“However, following risk assessment, any such bitumen containing asbestos is classified as ‘very low risk’.”

The HSE added that asbestos-containing material will be removed by a specialist contractor, working to an approved and detailed method statement agreed with the Health & Safety Authority.

It also stated that no patients will be present in any of the works areas and these areas will be partitioned off from the rest of the facility.

The partitions will be sealed off preventing any air pollutants leaving the works area.

In addition, where asbestos removal works are being carried out, “appropriate housing will be used by the specialist removal contractor to contain the air in each work space”.

The works will be supervised and monitored by an independent accredited specialist company, who will undertake air sampling during all phases of the works.

The statement did not detail why the works could not be carried out post- April 28, simply saying that remedial works will be completed while the unit remains operational.

The HSE says similar works had been completed in other occupied acute in-patient settings in Cork in recent years.

Asked whether the HSE had agreed to provide overtime payments to staff at the hospital and bring in agency staff, it simply said “normal pay arrangements are in place for staff/agency”.