Beaumont Hospital went off call for more than an hour last night after a spillage of a flammable and toxic sterilising substance in a storeroom. Calls to the accident and emergency department were diverted to the Mater and Blanchardstown while firefighters removed a leaking cannister of ethylene oxide.
Eight operating theatres and an X-Ray department were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Nobody was injured in the incident, which occurred at approximately 7.40 p.m.