THE accidental release of a radioactive substance was the reason behind Furness General Hospital being served an improvement notice by the health and safety watchdog, it has been revealed.

The substance was released at the hospital after a worker dropped a syringe.

The radionuclide in the needle made contact with the staff member, according to a report released by the trust that runs the hospital - although no-one was harmed.

The incident prompted an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, which served the Morecambe Bay NHS trust with an improvement notice.

The notice was complied with and the investigation was closed.

The incident was revealed in a report to the trust's board of directors.

The report said: "In January 2022 an incident involving the accidental release of a radionuclide within the Nuclear Medicine Department at Furness General Hospital was reported to the Health and Safety Executive as required under the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017

"The radioactive substance is prepared in the radio-pharmacy and is drawn up into a syringe for injection into the patient for a diagnostic examination.

"Before the procedure commenced the syringe was dropped within the injection room and radioactive material made contact with the member of staff delivering the procedure.

"Neither the member of staff nor the patient was harmed.

"A further preparation was made up and the patient was injected and scanned as required."

A HSE inspector visited the trust on March 28 and 29 to investigate and undertake an inspection of the Nuclear Medicine Department at FGH.

Following the visit, the inspector issued an improvement notice.

Summing up the trust's compliance with the notice, the report said: "The action required within the improvement notice and one of the items from the notification of contravention were already underway prior to the visit from the HSE.

"A response, addressing all requirements within the notices was provided to the HSE before the required date and after a further request for clarity on two points, the HSE have confirmed full compliance and have closed the case on May 25 2022.

"The trust Health and Safety Committee, chaired by the Director of Governance has overseen the delivery of the actions associated with this event arising from both trust and HSE investigations."