A Massachusetts maternity ward has seen a spike in nurses diagnosed with brain tumors – as staff fear conditions are making them sick.
Workers at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have been struck with different types of brain tumors over the years.
One claimed as many as ten nurses on the same floor – including herself – had been diagnosed.
While some have been benign and some cancerous, she believed that the diagnoses were serious cause for concern for the site.
A nurse speaking to WBZ-TV expressed concern over the increasing number of brain tumor diagnoses among colleagues on the same floor. The nurse questioned if it was just a coincidence, feeling unsettled by the trend.
She told the outlet three of them have had surgery, but believed the hospital has not been supportive enough.
‘We want reassurance because this has not been a reassuring past few months for a lot of the staff members,’ she said.
‘We want to feel safe, the same way we want to make our patients feel safe.’
Another nurse at Newton-Wellesley Hospital also noted that around ten nurses from the same floor had been diagnosed with brain tumors. The nurse reiterated the sentiment that such a pattern seemed unlikely to be random.
The hospital claimed that there were ‘no environmental risk’ after conducting an investigation since December
Concerns had been growing in the department among nurses, as the number of their colleagues struck with the diagnosis only increased.
‘You’re going into work every day with that feeling in your gut, and it’s a lousy feeling,’ she told the outlet.
The hospital, however, gave a shocking response claiming there were ‘no environmental risk’ after investigating since December.
The hospital responded to the reports by stating that they had conducted a thorough investigation upon learning about the cases. They collaborated with various departments and external consultants to examine the situation, ensuring a comprehensive review.
The hospital told the outlet it had interviewed ten nurses, five of which were said to have different types of brain tumors.
‘Every staff member who came forward was given the opportunity to be interview by the Occupational Health and Safety team to evaluate each diagnosis in the context of their individual medical history and risk factors.
‘To evaluate for any possible environmental exposures in that area of the hospital, comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December.
‘The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor. We presented these findings to relevant stakeholder groups, including the staff on the unit and the Massachusetts Nursing Association, and have held forums to meet with clinical and Occupational Health leaders to answer their questions.
‘You’re going into work every day with that feeling in your gut, and it’s a lousy feeling,’ the nurse said
Sandy Muse (pictured), the Chief Nursing Officer, signed the hospital statement which said it can ‘confidently reassure’ the nurses there was no environmental risk at the facility
‘The hospital is proving the MNA with the test results from the investigation, including those of several external environmental firms,’ the statement continued.
‘Based on these results, we can confidently reassure our dedicated team members at mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital and all our patients that there is no environmental risk at our facility.
‘As always, the health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority.’
The statement was given by Jonathon Sonis, the Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Sandy Muse, the Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services.
Yet despite the investigation, as worries persist, the nurses are calling for an independent investigation.
Paula Ward of the Massachusetts Nurse Association told the outlet:’ I think the concern is [that] we don’t know what it is, and nurses are scared, they’re worried, and they want to make sure they’re not working in an unsafe place.’
‘I think the nurses should be the first people – because we’re the ones that brought it to their attention – to be told, and we feel like we have been the last to be informed on anything,’ the anonymous nurse added.
A spokesperson for Newton-Wellesley Hospital confirmed that not all of the nurses were on the unit at the same time and noted that some of the diagnoses pre-date the Covid-19 pandemic.
