MSP calls for urgent action
if it is safely managed and contained, it doesn’t present a health hazard.”
Mags’s partner Martin claims she was most likely exposed to asbestos while working at Law Hospital before it was demolished in 2009, when about 1300 tons of the material were removed from the building.
His wife was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2017 and died in February last year, leaving Martin to bring up their sons Edward, 12, and Freddie, nine.
Hundreds of other Scottish hospitals are believed to still contain high quantities of the material. Labour’s health spokeswoman Lennon said: “It is worrying
that t he S c ot t i sh
Lennon and hospital
Government has no idea how many NHS buildings contain asbestos.
“The maintenance and repairs backlog across the health service is substantial and that increases the risk of asbestos exposure.
“I am pleased ministers have now instructed Health Facilities Scotland to gather this vital information.
“Urgent steps must be taken to protect NHS staff and patients.”
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, with about 2500 diagnoses in the UK each year. Nine in 10 cases are linked to exposure to asbestos, according to Mesothelioma UK.
Asbestos was widely used in the construction of public buildings in the second half of the 20th century.
A doctor and mother of two with jujust months left to live recently wwarned of a “hidden epidemic” of aasbestos-related cancers among NNHS staff and patients because hhospitals have failed to properly hhandle the toxic material.
Kate Richmond, 44, spoke out after she won a legal case against the NHSNH for negligently exposing her to asbestos whi le she was a juniorj doctor at Walsgrave HospitalHos in Coventry.
TheTh Scottish Government said: “As there is no central record of asbeasbestos across the hospital estate, the HHealth Secretary has asked boardboards to provide this information by the end of April.”