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Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Hospital staff 'left operating theatres during surgery to watch Netflix'
The report revealed an 'atmosphere of fear' in the hospital's surgical department - after staff were caught leaving operating theatres to watch Netflix and pigeons were spotted in the corridors Hospital chiefs have apologised after staff were caught leaving operating theatres mid-surgery to watch Netflix, a damning report revealed. Safety fears were raised at the University Hospital of Wales during an internal investigation of its surgical department. According to the report, anaesthetic practitioners were not always present in theatre during their patients' operations, and were instead spending time in the anaesthetic room watching Netflix on their phones. The hospital's cleanliness had also fallen below expected standards after pigeons were seen in trauma theatres and theatre corridors. Health board chiefs have now apologised and are conducting a separate review into allegations that staff allowed members of the public to watch surgery. The report, by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, also found that staff felt belittled and criminal behaviour - including theft and illegal drugs found in a staff locker - went unchallenged. Surgery staff said they often worked through their breaks so needed to take food and drink into the anaesthetic room. Poor infection control was also laid bare as staff were found to not be wearing masks properly, did not have bare arms below the elbow and were wearing jewellery or nail varnish. One person was also found to be still working at the health board after being caught with drugs - with no charges brought by police. An anonymous complaint of racism was made to management and the person accused was suspended but no further action was taken as there was insufficient evidence. The health board said the reluctance of staff to speak up made complaints difficult to address. In a joint statement, the health board's Suzanne Rankin and Paul Bostock said the report was "very disappointing and concerning." They said: "The service review was completed on Tuesday, 29 April 2025 and involved over a third of theatres staff sharing their views and experiences. It uncovered a number of concerning themes, ranging from failures of leadership practice, variable compliance with policies and procedures and poor culture, all of which impact upon behaviours and psychological safety of colleagues. "In relation to patient safety, the main areas of concern relate to compliance with the World Health Organisation surgical safety checklist and the process for obtaining patient consent. As a Health Board, we have already taken mitigating actions and improvements have been implemented." They added: "The health board will now consider the findings, recommended actions and implications of the service review as it develops a management response and a detailed action plan to make urgent improvements and address quality and safety issues. "Colleagues directly involved in theatres will receive a copy of the report and will be supported by a series of face-to-face briefings with the chief operating officer and other senior colleagues. We are very sorry for the distress and concern this will cause, and we want to reassure the public that we will take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised." There are 12 operating theatres at the hospital which carry out 10,700 operations each year including 7,000 emergency cases.
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Patients at Welsh hospital 'nearly had surgery' without giving proper consent
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Two patients at a Welsh hospital were reportedly moments away from undergoing surgery without proper consent. One of the patients at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales was understood to be already under anaesthetic when the mistake was caught "at the very last moment". A whistleblower has claimed that the hospital, which is the largest in Wales, has seen recent instances where patients were almost taken into surgery "without a consent form, or with the wrong consent form". They claimed that on two occasions, three levels of pre-theatre checks failed before staff in the operating theatre spotted the errors, reports WalesOnline. Cardiff and Vale University health board acknowledged being aware of two incidents where patients were brought to the operating theatres without the correct consent forms. In response, they have initiated a "comprehensive review" of their checking procedures to make them "ensure this is more robust". Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox A spokesperson for the health board said: "There are a series of processes and checks in place to ensure no patient undergoes a procedure without the appropriate consent. On each of these occasions, checks at the beginning of the pathway to theatre failed. "However, final checks prior to the commencement of the surgical procedure identified the error. This meant that neither patient underwent a surgical procedure without consent." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Last month, it was reported that several staff members at the hospital were under investigation over allegations that outsiders were permitted to observe surgeries on unsuspecting patients. The health board confirmed it was investigating these "deeply concerning" claims. Earlier this year, it was disclosed that the health board was conducting a "comprehensive service review" of the hospital's operating theatres following accusations of a toxic work environment, racism, bullying, and drug use. Whistleblowers expressed frustration that the health board had not adequately investigated issues dating back to 2021 when staff allegedly allowed their friends and family into theatres to watch surgeries without any background checks and without informing patients. A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said that these concerns "must be taken seriously", but did not respond to calls from former leader of the Welsh Tories, Andrew RT Davies, for an independent investigation. In January, the health board's chief operating officer Paul Bostock penned an internal letter stating that discussions with more than 60 staff had made it "clear there are clearly deep-seated issues which we will address in order to make theatres an attractive place to work". Whistleblowers have associated the "huge" staff turnover with alleged bullying. WalesOnline previously reported allegations that one staff member had been suspended after suggesting that a group of Indian nurses needed name badges because they "all looked the same". Sources claimed the staff member returned from suspension and took diversity classes but was then suspended again over further allegations of bullying and racism Addressing the consent concerns, a health board spokeswoman said: "Cardiff and Vale University health board operates on approximately 2,500 patients each month across 40 theatres. Most theatre procedures are undertaken without incident. "Our focus remains on providing safe and high-quality care, and patient safety is always of utmost importance to us. We would like to remind colleagues of the importance of the health board's 'speaking up safely' process, which enables all colleagues to speak up and raise any concerns they have with the confidence that their voices will be heard, and suggestions acted upon."
North Wales Live
29-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Patients at Welsh hospital 'nearly had surgery' without giving proper consent
Two patients at a Welsh hospital were reportedly moments away from undergoing surgery without proper consent. One of the patients at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales was understood to be already under anaesthetic when the mistake was caught "at the very last moment". A whistleblower has claimed that the hospital, which is the largest in Wales, has seen recent instances where patients were almost taken into surgery "without a consent form, or with the wrong consent form". They claimed that on two occasions, three levels of pre-theatre checks failed before staff in the operating theatre spotted the errors, reports WalesOnline. Cardiff and Vale University health board acknowledged being aware of two incidents where patients were brought to the operating theatres without the correct consent forms. In response, they have initiated a "comprehensive review" of their checking procedures to make them "ensure this is more robust". Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox A spokesperson for the health board said: "There are a series of processes and checks in place to ensure no patient undergoes a procedure without the appropriate consent. On each of these occasions, checks at the beginning of the pathway to theatre failed. "However, final checks prior to the commencement of the surgical procedure identified the error. This meant that neither patient underwent a surgical procedure without consent." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Last month, it was reported that several staff members at the hospital were under investigation over allegations that outsiders were permitted to observe surgeries on unsuspecting patients. The health board confirmed it was investigating these "deeply concerning" claims. Earlier this year, it was disclosed that the health board was conducting a "comprehensive service review" of the hospital's operating theatres following accusations of a toxic work environment, racism, bullying, and drug use. Whistleblowers expressed frustration that the health board had not adequately investigated issues dating back to 2021 when staff allegedly allowed their friends and family into theatres to watch surgeries without any background checks and without informing patients. A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said that these concerns "must be taken seriously", but did not respond to calls from former leader of the Welsh Tories, Andrew RT Davies, for an independent investigation. In January, the health board's chief operating officer Paul Bostock penned an internal letter stating that discussions with more than 60 staff had made it "clear there are clearly deep-seated issues which we will address in order to make theatres an attractive place to work". Whistleblowers have associated the "huge" staff turnover with alleged bullying. WalesOnline previously reported allegations that one staff member had been suspended after suggesting that a group of Indian nurses needed name badges because they "all looked the same". Sources claimed the staff member returned from suspension and took diversity classes but was then suspended again over further allegations of bullying and racism Addressing the consent concerns, a health board spokeswoman said: "Cardiff and Vale University health board operates on approximately 2,500 patients each month across 40 theatres. Most theatre procedures are undertaken without incident. "Our focus remains on providing safe and high-quality care, and patient safety is always of utmost importance to us. We would like to remind colleagues of the importance of the health board's 'speaking up safely' process, which enables all colleagues to speak up and raise any concerns they have with the confidence that their voices will be heard, and suggestions acted upon."
