Fears over toxic waste storage at Hospital

Date Published: 18-Apr-2008

Radioactive waste is still being stored in large volumes in an unsuitable store at University Hospital Galway, despite concerns being expressed six years ago by the national radiation monitoring body.

Six years ago, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) expressed concerns about the existing storage facility, which is located on the fifth floor of the hospital. Now, the Health Service Executive West has sought permission for a long term storage facility for radioactive waste in the hospital’s Waste Management Depot.

And hospital authorities have been ordered to contact the Garda National Crime Prevention Office to discuss security measures which will have to be put in place.

The planning application is for a change of use of a disused waste water pumphouse for a 17.2 square metre storage facility, which will have reinforced concrete walls.

According to a letter from the RPII, an inspection of the medical radioactive waste facility at UHG in February 2002 found the existing location unsuitable. “The present location of the radioactive waste store is ……………