Hewitt says NHS is prepared for ‘dirty bomb attack’

Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, has said that the NHS is prepared for the impact of a possible terrorist attack involving ‘dirty bombs’ that could disperse radioactive matter.

Her comments came after two men were arrested after being suspected of organising a terrorist plot aimed at unleashing a chemical weapon. They were apprehended during a dawn raid in east London on Friday.

Ms Hewitt told Sky News’ Sunday Live programme: “The NHS right across the country is preparing for this kind of eventuality.

“I think you saw last year on July 7 the way in which the NHS and all the emergency services were able to spring into action, performed absolutely superbly because there had been so much preparation already done.”

“Of course, we are all very worried about the possibility of a dirty bomb and indeed that was one of the very big fears when it became clear there had been explosions on the morning of July 7th,” she added.

Ms Hewitt concluded by saying that ambulances had been specially equipped with detection equipment to warn of materials associated with dirty bombs after an explosion.

Dirty bombs are designed to disperse radioactive matter over an area and they could require the presence of a major decontamination programme to clear the affected area of radioactivity, should one go off.

© Adfero Ltd