Peninsula Hospital suffers setback on road to recovery

The state Department of Health ordered the Far Rockaway hospital on Thursday to close its lab due to issues that put "public health, safety and welfare in imminent danger," state officials said. A total of 78 patients had to be transferred. This is the first time in recent memory that the health commissioner had to come down with such a harsh edict, officials said. Observations in the 9-page order are alarming. Lab staff was seen handling samples without gloves; no supervisor was on site on nights and weekends; one lab tech received only two days of training before being put to work; a blood test yielded two different blood types.