Mould at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital has caused staff members to get sick and one to leave the job, a source has claimed. The mould was found in the diagnostics departments and started to grow after flooding more than a year ago.

The source claims the mould grew because it wasn't cleaned properly. She said as a result, her friend and the supervisor of the department both had to be treated by their doctors for mould-related illness.

The source said: "She was getting so sick often and then her supervisor. One day they both came in sick. Her supervisor's eyes had blown up [in a way that] you know [you have an] allergic reaction.

"The supervisor said she's not pleased with how they are dealing with it. They are not dealing with it quick enough."

Contacted yesterday, a spokesperson for the Bermuda Hospitals Board said: "Bermuda Hospitals Board cannot disclose health information regarding employees, but their safety and well-being is of the utmost importance to us. Following an investigation into part of the KEMH basement area used to store diagnostic films, BHB did find a localised leak and some mould. This has not impacted other areas of the hospital and the leak has now been dealt with."

She added: "Some quality improvements have already been made, but in the interests of safety BHB has decided to temporarily close the area to the public and carry out a thorough cleaning and maintenance programme."

The source said a consultant came to look at the problem and said the area was "toxic" and told workers to wear protective gowns, gloves and masks.

She agreed that the department was shut down but claimed the hospital was taking to long to clean it up.

"Right now they're really not [working] down there. They're just not pleased with how it is going.

"It's been almost two years but in June they started looking like they were going to do something. They don't know what the flood was from."