Massachusetts nurses with brain tumors: DPH ‘in communication’ with Newton-Wellesley

The state Department of Residents Healthcare is in communication with Newton-Wellesley Hospital after a released group of nurses were diagnosed with brain tumors The diagnosed nurses have worked at specific point in the maternal care labor delivery unit on the hospital s fifth floor according to hospital authorities As of last week staff members had been interviewed by the Mass General Brigham Occupational Strength Utility Five cases were determined to be brain tumors of three different types all of which were benign non-cancerous The only type of benign tumor that had more than one occurrence was meningioma Six cases were determined to not be brain tumors but rather other physical condition concerns Newton-Wellesley Hospital functionaries have been assuring staff and patients that there s no environmental menace at the facility while the Massachusetts Nurses Association stated it s still examining the situation On Monday the Herald reached out to the state Department of Constituents Strength about the shared cluster The Department of Masses Physical condition is aware of this matter and is in communication with the hospital DPH explained in a message The hospital is conducting an internal analysis Newton-Wellesley shared the findings of its analysis with DPH according to a hospital spokesperson This situation at the Mass General Brigham facility was first released by WBZ After hospital personnel learned of the disclosed brain tumors they conducted an probe with the Department of Occupational Wellness and Safety Newton-Wellesley Safety Officer radiation and pharmaceutical safety offices and external environmental consultants The scrutiny discovered no environmental risks which could be linked to the maturation of a brain tumor hospital authorities explained in a announcement Based on these results we can confidently reassure our dedicated club members at Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital and all our patients that there is no environmental danger at our facility the personnel added As invariably the wellbeing and wellbeing of our staff clinicians and patients is our absolute top priority Related Articles Cluster of Massachusetts nurses reportedly diagnosed with brain tumors Staff members have raised several concerns about this cluster of cases The hospital addressed questions about whether brain tumor cases can be related to wearing masks during the pandemic the drinking water use of x-rays the pharmacy on the floor below cleaning products past renovations or mold The Massachusetts Nurses Association s division of strength and safety consisting of occupational wellbeing nurses is inspecting the situation We do not have a specific number of nurses we are releasing now because we are still verifying diagnoses via medicinal records We do not have a specific cause as we are still inspecting a spokesperson for the union explained in a message We brought this to the hospital in December to urge an probe by MGB the union spokesperson added We have been in communication with NWH nurses about this regularly and specifically with nurses who are self-reporting The union spokesperson stated the review is focused on the maternity unit though they have reports from other areas as well We are engaging with the hospital about their inquiry the union spokesperson commented They only spoke to a small number of nurses and their environmental testing was not comprehensive The hospital cannot make this issue go away by attempting to provide a predetermined conclusion