Birmingham Mail

UK hospital chlorine contamination sparks police investigation

Two patient deaths are linked to contaminated water with chlorine levels 16 times higher than accepted as safe


Police were called to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, after the deaths of two patients were linked to contaminated water with chlorine levels 16 times higher than accepted as safe, according to an article on the Birmingham Mail website.

The deaths occurred when critical care patients were having dialysis using the contaminated water.

Staff and patients were given bottled water and warned not to drink tap water after it had become contaminated on three separate occasions since August 4, the article said.

“A review of all chlorine systems has been completed and the implementation of any necessary works is being carried out. We have enforced additional safety measures which include 30-minute monitoring, 24 hours a day, with four-hourly reporting back to the trust on chlorine levels across the hospital," the hospital said in a statement.

Read the article.

 

 



October 2, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


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