Health Minister to take closer look at Foothills mold

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http://calgary.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ca_mold20030429

Apr 29 2003 11:21 AM MDT

Mar to take closer look at Foothills mold

Calgary - The province is going to take a closer look at toxic mold in the Foothills Hospital, reversing an earlier position where Health Minister Mar said there was no evidence of a problem.

The Calgary Health Region has twice admitted that mold was found in the hospital's dialysis unit, but says it's been cleaned up. Mar, when questioned in the legislature Friday, said there is no evidence of a problem.However, Liberal health critic Taft produced the lab report Monday, showing three different types of mold exist on the unit and demanded the government do its own test. Mar then said he'd look into it. Taft says it appears the CHR isn't keeping Mar fully informed about what's happening at the hospital. At least 30 nurses – about a third of the staff – on the ward have complained of headaches and breathing problems for months, and mold was discovered at the end of March. The unit had been flooded last fall. The United Nurses of Alberta says RNs working have complained of symptoms ranging from hives to chronic nose bleeds to respiratory problems. There is no evidence linking the ailments to the mold. Senkow, with the UNA, says there are still many nurses off sick and some are threatening to quit.

From April 2, 2003: Foothills mold likely toxic: officials