Hospital staff not poisoned by Litvinenko radiation

2:06pm Tuesday 12th December 2006

Staff at Barnet Hospital have been given the all-clear after being tested for potential radiation poisoning following the death of Alexander Litvinenko, who was treated at the hospital between November 3-17.

The former Russian spy died on November 23 from a lethal dose of Polonium-210 at University College London Hospital (UCLH).

Mr Litvinenko's wife, Marina, and several of his associates, have tested positive to having traces of the radiation in their bodies and there had been concerns staff at Barnet and UCLH might also have been infected.

But a statement on the web site of the Healthcare Protection Agency (HPA), which is testing people who came into close contact with Mr Litvinenko, said: "Some 76 health care workers were identified as having been in close contact with Mr Litvinenko and as a precaution they were invited to provide urine samples for testing. Of the 76, 69 accepted the offer of urine tests. All results were negative."