Drugs, sabotage, stealing and racism exposed in shocking report into Wales' biggest hospital
A damning report into the operating theatres at Wales' biggest hospital has revealed crime, racism and an "unsafe" workplace.
The 22-page comprehensive service review of the theatres at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, reveals that staff felt serious problems were not dealt with by leaders, including a series of thefts and the discovery of illegal drugs in a staff locker. The findings include:
"Inappropriate and racist remarks" were made by a staff member who said a group of Indian nurses needed name badges because they "all looked the same".
Some anaesthetic practitioners were not always in theatre for the whole operation, instead watching Netflix in the anaesthetic room.
Female staff felt unable to leave anything of value in the changing room because of the "regularity" of theft, which included money, phones, computers and clothing going missing.
An "atmosphere of fear" had gone "a long way to destroying the bonds which allow people to work effectively together".
One manager "actively sabotaging" a colleague in a newly created role in the clinical lead team.
The report includes many more alarming findings, which we will add to the live blog below.
Cardiff and Vale University health board said the report was a "difficult read" and apologised to those affected. It vowed to implement the long list of recommendations.
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