Tufton promises to focus on solving Cornwall Regional's ventilation issues

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has promised to focus on solving the ventilation issues at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

Tufton says if technical experts recommend that the hospital be closed to carry out repairs, then the Health Ministry will have to do so.

For several months, staff and patients have been complaining that they are being affected by noxious fumes at the St James-based facility.

Tufton has sought to explain that the problem worsened last September while the ventilation system which was built in 1981 was being cleaned.

He says because of the age of the system, the fibre glass lining was disrupted, further contaminating the system.