The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. (FP)
Statement on the temporary relocation of Chemotherapy Preparation from QEH to the Best Dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) wishes to advise the public that it has encountered a technical challenge with its biosafety cabinet, which is the facility used to manufacture chemotherapy treatments.
This issue was drawn to the attention of the QEH’s management team by the Pharmacy Department on Thursday, November 1, and a decision was taken to discontinue the use of the biosafety cabinet in question.
Management immediately enacted arrangements to ensure the continuity of service for the approximately 16 patients affected, through the temporary establishment of an appropriate facility at the Best Dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.
This interim facility is currently being decontaminated, and once deemed ready for use, will resume the preparation of chemotherapy drugs. There is no shortage of drugs but a need to relocate preparation of chemotherapy. We expect to resume preparation of chemotherapy treatments by Saturday, November 10, and patients are expected to continue treatment from Monday, November 12.
A private facility is assisting with patients whose treatment cannot be delayed or disrupted until Monday. Management has also taken immediate steps to identify a suitable replacement biosafety cabinet. This replacement cabinet will be procured and commissioned within the next 6 to 8 weeks. The Best Dos Santos Laboratory will service the QEH during this period.
The Board of Management and staff of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital wishes to advise members of the public, particularly those affected, that every effort is being made to swiftly rectify the issue at hand and to ensure that the needs of vulnerable patients are met.