Asbestos Exposure at Wycombe Hospital Concerns Families

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News Summary

Families who’ve lost loved ones to mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure at Wycombe Hospital are demanding the release of asbestos records from the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Investigations uncovered asbestos materials in the hospital, raising serious health concerns for staff and families alike. The tragic case of a nurse who succumbed to mesothelioma exemplifies the urgency of transparency regarding asbestos safety protocols. Despite families’ appeals, the trust continues to deny access to critical documents, deepening anxieties about past and potential future exposures.

Asbestos Concerns Haunt Families of Wycombe Hospital

Families of individuals who have tragically succumbed to mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure at Wycombe Hospital are calling on the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust to release crucial asbestos records. This demand is rooted in years of anxiety stemming from the hospital’s construction era in the 1960s, when the use of asbestos was pervasive, and has only grown since the material was banned in the UK in November 1999.

Asbestos Findings at Wycombe Hospital

An investigation revealed that asbestos-containing materials were discovered in various sections of the hospital, including corridors and maintenance rooms. While these materials can present minimal risk if they remain undisturbed, they become a serious hazard when disturbed, releasing dangerous fibers into the air. The NHS Trust has claimed to have robust protocols in place to manage asbestos risks effectively. However, historical exposure has claimed lives and put numerous workers and former staff in a precarious situation.

The Tragic Case of Jemima Abraham

One of the most heart-wrenching stories comes from Jemima Abraham, an intensive therapy unit nurse at Wycombe from 1976 to 2003. She passed away from stage four sarcomatoid mesothelioma in May 2019, a disease closely linked to asbestos exposure. Her daughters, Sheona Ramsay-Edwards and Heather Abraham, have become vocal advocates for transparency regarding the trust’s asbestos register.

The sisters assert that hospital staff, including their mother, were not adequately informed of the risks associated with asbestos, raising serious concerns about the safety protocols in place during their mother’s long tenure at the hospital. Jemima suffered excruciating pain during her battle with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is notoriously associated with asbestos exposure. Her final struggles included an inability to swallow and painful thrush, which added to her suffering.

The Family’s Ongoing Fight

In 2019, the sisters reached an out-of-court settlement with the health and social care secretary in relation to their mother’s death. They also believe that their father, Robert, who was a maintenance engineer at the hospital, exhibited similar symptoms consistent with mesothelioma, indicating a potential family legacy of exposure. Robert worked directly with asbestos in boiler rooms and maintenance areas, often coming home covered in asbestos dust on his work clothing.

Heather and Sheona are increasingly concerned that they may also be at risk for asbestos-related diseases simply from washing their father’s contaminated garments. They reminisced about the impact of their mother’s illness on their family life, highlighting how significant events like graduations and birthdays were overshadowed by her battle against this relentless disease.

The Trust’s Response

Requests to access the trust’s asbestos surveys have been consistently denied, citing public safety concerns. Despite this, a planning statement made public reveals that significant quantities of asbestos are indeed located on the hospital grounds, underscoring the urgency of the families’ demands for transparency. Historical documents, such as a 1979 Buckinghamshire Area Health Authority report, confirm the presence of crocidolite (blue asbestos) and other forms of asbestos in vital areas like the boiler house and oil storage room, increasing the potential risk exposure for both staff and patients.

Furthermore, an 1981 incident report documented a situation where workers handling a blocked drain were found covered in asbestos dust, with air contamination levels exceeding safety limits. Recommendations for immediate removal of blue asbestos and enhanced safety measures for staff were made, yet decades have passed without any major actions taken.

The familial fear of asbestos exposure is so pervasive that the daughter of an assistant engineer, who was directly involved in documenting exposure risks at the hospital, fears her father’s occupational exposure may have contributed to his own battle with mesothelioma. Meanwhile, the trust continues to assert that patient and staff safety is paramount and that all existing asbestos is properly managed. The growing apprehension among those directly affected by past exposures reflects the urgent need for accountability and safety measures in healthcare settings.

Individuals concerned about possible historical asbestos exposure at Wycombe Hospital are encouraged to reach out to the trust via email for further information and support.