The removal of asbestos at Guy’s Hospital in London last weekend led to the closure of operating theatres and cancellation of fifteen non-emergency operations, it has been revealed. The incident happened when a pipe that supplied heating to four of the south London hospital’s eleven operating theatres burst, requiring asbestos removal before any repair work could take place.

The theatres were closed until Monday evening as a result of the incident. Staff and patients at the hospital were not at risk of asbestos exposure at any point during the repairs.

“The burst pipe was located in an area where asbestos is recorded as part of our asbestos register. The Trust’s plans for asbestos removal were then put in place,” said a spokesperson for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. “We routinely remove asbestos from our buildings and will continue to do so as part of our maintenance and improvement plan.”