Hospital to isolate asbestos

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is undergoing work to isolate asbestos in the maternity unit of the building, it has been reported.

According to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, the work is essential in maintaining the health and safety of patients, staff and visitors, the Shropshire Star reports.

The plan is not to remove the substance but rather to encapsulate it with a special sealant coating.

According to the trust's director of service delivery Trish Rowson the maintenance work will continue to ensure a safe environment for all those inside the hospital.

"The work that is being carried out is vital to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone. The asbestos in the maternity unit is currently managed and contained, and the work due to take place will ensure that it continues to be managed," she told the newspaper.

Asbestos-related disease is the biggest cause of workplace deaths in the UK.