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Hospital A&E blast sprays powder Hospital blast powder 'harmless'
(about 2 hours later)
An explosion at a hospital's accident and emergency unit has led to staff members being put in isolation after white powder sprayed across the room. A white powder which caused a scare at Derby's new City General Hospital was paracetamol, officials confirmed.
The staff were isolated after the blast at Derby's new hospital, the City General, on Wednesday afternoon. Eight people were put into isolation after white powder sprayed across a room in the A&E department on Wednesday after reports of an explosion.
Fire crews had cordoned off the area and an investigation into the cause of the explosion was under way. But they were released when tests carried out by firefighters who checked a bin revealed the substance to be harmless.
The explosion is understood to have been in a bin, but there was no damage to the dustbin An inquiry into exactly what happened is now under way.
The department has been kept open to patients and no staff were hurt, a statement from emergency services said. The department was kept open to patients and no staff were hurt, a statement from emergency services said.
In a joint statement, the emergency services said: "A small explosion occurred in an area of the adults A&E department at Derby City General Hospital shortly before 1400 BST, leaving behind a powder residue which has been tested and proved harmless.In a joint statement, the emergency services said: "A small explosion occurred in an area of the adults A&E department at Derby City General Hospital shortly before 1400 BST, leaving behind a powder residue which has been tested and proved harmless.
"There were no injuries, however eight people who were in the area at the time remain well and show no cause for concern.""There were no injuries, however eight people who were in the area at the time remain well and show no cause for concern."
A&E consultant Dan Becker added: "It's tested us and our new plans at an early stage and I'm pleased that it seems to have gone as well as can be hoped in the circumstances with no-one harmed and business carrying on."
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Kam Basi of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue said there was nothing suspicious in the binKam Basi of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue said there was nothing suspicious in the bin