Terrorists 'may have access to deadly viruses in NHS hospitals'

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Lax hospital security could give terrorists easy access to deadly viruses

The warning comes just days after it emerged that seven of the eight people held over the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow had links to the NHS.

Hospitals are "just as vulnerable as any nightclub", a security management specialist based in a London hospital told the Health Service Journal.

The unnamed security expert said thefts of lethal substances could go unnoticed for days. He told the journal: "Most hospitals give staff cards that let them into certain areas, but it's easy to lend someone your pass.

"That could give them access to x-ray machines, isotopes, chemicals and disease slides. It could be days before anyone realised a virus was missing."

'Vulnerable'

He added: "The official view is that the threat to hospitals is fairly low, but we're just as vulnerable as any nightclub - these people want maximum impact."

The problem could be made worse by weaknesses in vetting of hospital employees, the journal reported.

On fire: one of the bombers is hosed down at Glasgow Airport

Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered the new security minister, Admiral Sir Alan West, to examine potential failings in NHS overseas recruitment procedures after the attempted terrorist attacks on central London and Glasgow Airport.

Admiral West, former head of the Royal Navy, reported back to Mr Brown in private with his initial findings on Monday.

Iraqi doctor Bilal Abdulla, believed to be the link man between all eight suspects

Of the eight people held over the attacks, five are doctors or trainee doctors in Britain, one is a doctor in Australia who previously worked in the UK, and one is a hospital laboratory researcher.

One of the car bombs was left outside the Tiger Tiger nightclub in London's Soho entertainment district in the early hours of June 29.

Suspect: Dr Mohammed Asha

He went on: "Any materials that can cause death or injury in the wrong hands must be safely secured by NHS trusts.

"Some of these materials are important tools in the delivery of clinical care. In the hands of a doctor they can save lives but if used inappropriately they can be deadly.

"It is essential every health body with these materials on their premises has the best possible security arrangements in place so that staff, patients and the public at large are not exposed to the dangers they can pose."

The NHS SMS issued guidance for health trusts in 2004 including advice on carrying out background checks on staff with access to dangerous materials.

 

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