One other Newton-Wellesley Hospital staffer who labored within the maternity wing has reportedly been identified with a mind tumor.
This sixth tumor case on the fifth flooring of the Mass Common Brigham facility comes as officers proceed to guarantee employees and sufferers that there’s “no environmental risk” on the hospital.
In the meantime, the Massachusetts Nurses Affiliation have stated the hospital’s environmental testing was “not comprehensive,” and the union remains to be investigating the state of affairs.
The nurses identified with mind tumors have labored within the maternal care labor/supply unit on the hospital’s fifth flooring.
5 mind tumor circumstances — all benign (non-cancerous) — had been reported as of final week. Now, the hospital is reporting a sixth case, in keeping with the Mass Common Brigham Division of Occupational Health and Security (OHS).
“To date, through their employee interview process, OHS has identified six staff members who have worked for varying durations on the fifth floor and report developing benign (non-cancerous) brain tumors,” Ellen Moloney, president and COO of Mass Common Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital, wrote to sufferers and households. “While the OHS investigation is ongoing, we have found no evidence that these medical conditions were caused by the work environment.”
The investigation has been led by the Mass Common Brigham Division of Occupational Health and Security, and performed by a multi-disciplinary group of consultants – together with a number of impartial companies.
The probe has “involved interviews of impacted staff, a thorough review of air and water quality, and comprehensive testing for any potential radiation, chemical, or pharmaceutical exposures,” Moloney stated.
“Based on the results of this rigorous ongoing investigation, we can assure you that no environmental risks have been identified at our hospital,” the official added.
This case at Newton-Wellesley Hospital was first reported by WBZ.
Workers members have raised a number of issues about this cluster of circumstances. The hospital has addressed questions on whether or not mind tumor circumstances might be associated to: sporting masks in the course of the pandemic, the consuming water, use of x-rays, or the pharmacy on the ground beneath.
“As always, your health, wellbeing, and safety – along with that of our employees – remain our top priority,” Moloney stated. “While there has been a great deal of misinformation shared on social media and in other forums, we want to make sure you have the facts.”
The Massachusetts Nurses Affiliation’s division of well being and security, consisting of occupational well being nurses, can also be investigating the cluster.
“We are glad to see the hospital is continuing to look into this situation,” a Massachusetts Nurses Affiliation spokesperson stated in an announcement. “Our investigation is ongoing, and we will share the results when our health and safety division completes its review of the diagnoses reported to the MNA.”
The union expects to have the ability to share its investigation outcomes with the hospital after which the general public in a single to 2 weeks.
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