Hospital asbestos 'a ticking time bomb'

The number of people who could contract cancer from asbestos poisoning in London's hospitals is a "ticking time bomb", it has been claimed.

BBC London has found 94% of hospitals in the capital contain asbestos.

About 1,000 people have died from mesothelioma since 2011 in London, seven of which were doctors and nurses.

The government said many parts of the NHS estate date from an era when asbestos was widely used but it is considered safe if left undisturbed.

The Health and Safety Executive says white asbestos, the type used in hospitals - often to protect piping, does pose a risk if disturbed.

Jerry Swain, acting national instructor for Unite's construction centre, and lawyer Isobel Lovett, who has dealt with asbestos cases for 17 years, have both described the number of people who are developing mesothelioma as like a "ticking time bomb".

2 million microscopic asbestos fibres could fit on a pin head

Mesothelioma

• About 2,600 people die each year in the UK from the condition which affects the lungs

• Symptoms include breathlessness, cough, chest pain, night sweats and in rare cases damage to the spinal cord

• The median survival rate is 12 months, chemotherapy treatment can add two to three months

• People who worked in offices and buildings with asbestos are being increasingly diagnosed, rather than just those who had direct contact with the material

• In areas with high risk exposure, about 5-10% individuals will develop it

Source: Doctor Peter Szlosarek, consultant oncologist at Barts Hospital who is studying mesothelioma

"White asbestos in hospitals is still a danger - there's no safe form of asbestos," said Ms Lovett. "There's no safe level of dust to which you can be exposed. All asbestos dust, once breathed in, presents a hazard."

She added that while the source of white asbestos remains in hospitals, there was always a danger that someone could inadvertently disturb it in some way and release the dangerous fibres.

Mr Swain added: "It's very hard to imagine a killer being safe. Asbestos is a known killer, people are dying from it. The only safe asbestos is asbestos that's been removed.

"If we're going to leave asbestos in places, we have to be aware that we are taking a conscious decision and that people will die."

He said a plan was needed to eradicate it because some workers may be unaware of the dangers.

Juliet's story

Dr Andrew Lawson lived with mesothemelioma for seven years before he died

Juliet Cohen, whose husband Andrew Lawson was an anaesthetist and specialised in intensive care medicine and chronic pain management, claimed he was exposed to asbestos walking through the underground tunnels linking hospital buildings at Guys and St Thomas Hospital when he trained there between 1976-82.

He died in 2014, seven years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

"At the time there was asbestos lagging in poor repair in these underground tunnels linking hospital buildings," she said.

"It means that every single person walking through was exposed on a daily basis. The risks of asbestos were well known at the time, that is something that is completely indefensible."

Dr Lawson's wife Juliet Cohen said health trusts knew about the risks

She said her husband was contacted "on a daily basis" by doctors and nurses who were concerned about their exposure.

Ms Cohen added that all the health trusts knew about the dangers of asbestos.

"They simply failed to take enough action to remove the risk for people who work there," she added.

The hospital said the asbestos in the basement area which Dr Lawson was exposed to was removed in the 1990s.

At spokesperson for NHS Improvement, part of the Department of Health, said: "In common with buildings across the country, many parts of the NHS estate date from an era when asbestos was widely used. Asbestos is considered safe if it is undisturbed.

"Nationally, there are strict rules and regulations in place so that asbestos is registered and safely contained. When building or other work is carried out, experts are bought in to properly and safely dispose of it.

"Safety is and always will be our top priority. We continue to work with trusts to ensure that their estate remains a safe environment for all patients and staff."