Contaminated water stalls opening of $74m hospital
A week after an Atherton Hospital open day spruiking the $86m redevelopment, health officials declared water at the facility unsafe for drinking and delayed the opening of the Tablelands project.
On Friday, Queensland chief health officer John Gerrard and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena
Singh addressed the media regarding elevated levels of lead detected in waters tested at the new clinical services building in Atherton Hospital and Yarrabah Health Facility.
The announcement came after the Cairns Post reported Yarrabah health workers had been asked to undergo blood testing following metal detection in drinking water.
Chief executive Leena Singh revealed the source of contamination was being investigated and assured staff and patients at Atherton and Yarrabah that CHHHS was taking extensive measures to limit potential contamination and protect people’s health and wellbeing.
“Expert toxicology advice is that there is a low risk of exposure to lead at both facilities, but it is better to cautious than complacent,” she said.
Patients and staff were being given bottled water and free and voluntary blood testing was available for current and former staff at both sites, but it was not mandatory as only long-term exposure to lead would lead to poisoning, she said.
Ms Singh said the postponement of the opening of the new facility, originally scheduled for May 31, would have no impact on the delivery of clinical services.
She also announced annual water testing for both inpatient and outpatient facilities going forward.
Dr Gerrard said Queensland Health had been visiting the facilities and liaising with the public health unit, environmental health officers, and safe water unit in Brisbane and provided assurance public water supply had been tested and was safe in both areas for the overall community.