Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is in the process of completing an extensive investigation into the materials used in the construction of its X-ray rooms after concerns were expressed that a door in one of the rooms (X-ray Room #2) may not be lined with lead.

"The results we have received to date are reassuring because they confirm that our patients have not been exposed to excess radiation," said Gary Ryan, SMH's interim President and CEO.

"Safety is the first priority at Stevenson," Ryan stated. "As soon as concerns were raised that the door may not contain lead, we immediately began our investigations and closed the room. The room will remain closed until all testing and investigation is completed. In the interim, we have moved all of our X-ray procedures into another room that meets the required standards."

X-ray room #2, which is located in the Hospital's diagnostic imaging department, was commissioned for X-ray use in 1978. Ryan emphasized that immediate steps were taken to investigate the materials used in its construction when concerns were first expressed earlier this month.

According to Ontario's Healing Arts Radiation Protection (HARP) Act, high standards of design, construction, operation, and performance are prescribed for X-ray use in a hospital environment. The HARP Act requires that hospital X-ray rooms be lined with materials such as lead, concrete, steel and glass. These high standards help to contain the ionizing radiation that pass through a body during an X-ray procedure.

Working closely with the Ministry of Health's X-Ray Inspection Branch, as well as the Ontario Ministry of Labour Radiation Protection Services, a series of detailed tests have been conducted in the diagnostic imaging department. Results received to date have confirmed that appropriate amounts of lead are present in all the X-ray rooms with the exception of X-ray Room #2, which contains lead in only one wall. As the walls in the department are thick and well-built, testing to date has also confirmed that majority of radiation scatter that may have occurred in X-Ray #2 was being absorbed by the existing walls.

To reduce the amount of radiation to which radiology professionals are exposed, hospitals, including SMH, are required by law to provide staff with regulated protective garments and a dosimeter or gauge to wear, that continuously monitors radiation levels within their work environment. No abnormal dosimeter readings have ever been reported at SMH. As an added precaution, however, SMH has secured the services of a radiation physicist to analyze further, whether the amount of primary radiation and scatter that could have left the room during X-ray procedures was below the regulated limits for the general workforce. Particular focus has been placed on staff who work in the area but are not required by law to wear protective clothing or a dosimeter.

"Our focus now is to determine that our staff was not exposed to any health risks," Ryan said. "Since the X-ray staff first brought their concerns to our attention, we have been meeting with them on a regular basis and updating them on the situation. They have been extremely supportive, and we are moving as fast as we can to get them the information they need to answer any questions or concerns that they may have."

Although it has been ruled out that any health risks exists for the general community, SMH is sharing information with the community to keep them apprised of the actions that are being taken to address the situation.

"Alliston is a small community with a large interest in its hospital," said Mr. Ryan. "We are committed to being as transparent with local residents as we have been with our staff regarding this issue."

Once final test results have been received, SMH will provide an update to staff via internal meetings and memos. The general public may access general information on the SMH website at www.smhosp.on.ca and through local media releases. In the interim, X-ray room #2 at SMH will remain closed and will not reopen until there is a plan in place to bring X-ray Room #2 up to the legislated lead shielding standards. Patients requiring X-ray services can be assured that their X-ray needs can still be met at SMH, as all X-ray patient care services will now be directed to X-ray Room #1.

A special hotline has been set up for local residents to call should they have any questions. It can be accessed by calling (705) 434-5161. All calls will be returned within 24-hours.