Unknown substance at Wairau Hospital sent for testing

The supplies area at Blenheim's Wairau Hospital was cordoned off yesterday after an unknown substance was found by staff.

Police were called to the incident shortly after midday and immediately closed the area off, before taking a sample of the substance for testing, hospital manager of surgical emergency services Denise Clement said.

She called the incident "fairly low key" and said there had not been any need for evacuation of staff or patients from the hospital.

She did not know what form the substance was in.

"It was just standard procedure really. The police took control of the situation and closed the supplies department," she said.

The cordon was lifted by mid-afternoon yesterday and no-one needed to be tested for contamination.

Ms Clement said the hospital was operating normally.

Police confirmed an incident at the hospital yesterday, but would not give details.

A police spokesman said today he did not know about the scare, but said if a sample of the substance had been collected yesterday, it would likely to sent for testing and results would not be expected until some time next week.

- NZPA