Further details have also emerged about allegations staff at the University Hospital of Wales invited members of the public into operating theatres
General view of the University Hospital of Wales, based in Heath, Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Agency)
More details have emerged after allegations of staff at Wales’ biggest hospital inviting members of the public into operating theatres to watch surgery on patients they did not know. We can also reveal details about a separate case of suspected sabotage at the hospital, which led to an unsolved police investigation.
Last week WalesOnline called for Cardiff and Vale health board to reveal the findings of its investigation into reports of unauthorised visitors watching operations at the University Hospital of Wales. Shortly afterwards the health board’s chief operating officer Paul Bostock wrote to all theatre staff detailing the investigation outcome.
The probe concluded there was one such incident in March 2021, during Covid restrictions, when “two former employees arranged for two members of the public to attend the theatre department as part of a pre-recruitment exercise”, and “authorisation was sought from the line manager for this visit to take place on a weekend”. Get our daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation here.
Mr Bostock said the intent was to help applicants for theatre assistant roles “better understand the demands of the job” but he added that “the failure to follow procedures and processes was wholly inappropriate” and that a disciplinary process is underway “for some individuals”.
Hospital sources have disputed the findings, claiming there were at least three incidents of staff inviting their own friends and family members to watch operations, and that patients were not aware.
In a leaked email, Mr Bostock said the patient “verbally consented to the visitors being in theatre before they were present and were advised that they would not be present during the operation”. But when we asked if the visitors did watch the operation, the health board said it was “not in a position to share this” because of HR practice.
Earlier this year a damning report into the hospital’s operating theatres revealed some staff had been working against each other, and that one manager had “actively sabotaged” a colleague. Whistleblowers have now told us of a suspected sabotage that took place in the weeks after the unauthorised visitors spent time there, though the health board says the matters are not linked.
A message from a manager to theatre staff in April 2021 states: “It has been brought to our attention that over 30 sterilised trays have had to be sent back for sterilisation due to holes being noticed in the wrapping. We are unsure exactly how this damage has occurred but it is a cause for concern as it looks like the tray wraps have been intentionally damaged by pushing a pen through them.
“This has not only caused immense disruption with regards to having to re-sterilise everything on top of our normal workload, but it is also a serious concern if a particular tray was required for a patient which was not available due to the damage. Potentially this incident could have resulted in either a patient’s operation being cancelled or them receiving sub-optimal care because the correct tray was not available.
“Due to the nature of this incident the police have been informed and we would greatly appreciate it if you would speak to [a manager] if you have any information relating to this.”
A culprit was never identified. One source claimed there were suspicions that the damaged theatre trays were linked to the unauthorised visitors, but the health board told us they were not “in any way” connected.
“March 20, 2021 is when the instance of people in theatres for recruitment purposes took place through the breaking of process,” said the health board spokeswoman. “We are only aware of one instance where this occurred.
“A two-week period saw damage to theatre trays, starting on April 15, 2021, nearly a full month after the isolated event took place. The email you received [about the suspected sabotage] was sent to colleagues on April 26 and police attended the unit.
“While some damage appeared deliberate, it was also speculated that some of the damage looked like drag marks, as if something was caught on them. Police presence had the desired outcome as damage to the trays had ceased.”
Damaged theatre trays were found in the trauma and eye surgery departments but also at other sites — cardiac theatres, which at the time were based at the University Hospital Llandough, and the Children’s Hospital for Wales.
Speaking about the unauthorised visit from March 2021, hospital sources said it had never been part of the recruitment process to let people in to watch operations. They felt it was particularly galling given the lack of PPE (personal protective equipment) and that some loved ones had been unable to visit seriously ill patients because of the Covid restrictions.
‘Clear breach of policy’
The leaked email from Mr Bostock reads: “During Covid, several theatre assistants had left the department, and attempts were made to extend the recruitment process to enable applicants who were interested in working in theatres to help them better understand the demands of the job… before the formal recruitment process commenced.
“The two members of the public attended the operating theatre before the patient was present as part of orientation process. The patient was in the anaesthetic room at this time and verbally consented to the visitors being in theatre before they were present and were advised that they would not be present during the operation.
“There is no evidence at this point to suggest that there have been any other occasions of members of the public being granted access to observe operations.”
He went on: “Whilst there was a clear breach of policy and procedure it would appear that the explanation given for allowing two people to observe theatre practice is plausible. However, whilst the intent was right, the application and failure to follow procedures and processes was wholly inappropriate. A disciplinary process is still underway for some individuals so I cannot say anymore than this.”
Sources said the concerns over visitors had been “raised so many times” since the pandemic but had only been investigated after WalesOnline reported on the matter earlier this year.
One said: “Why get authorisation for a weekend? Because it wasn’t allowed. It was all well-planned. On weekends there are hardly any staff so not many people to witness it.”
Last week, Plaid Cymru and Tory politicians told us there should be transparency over the investigation findings. Llais, an independent body aimed at giving the Welsh public more influence in shaping health care, said: “Llais continues to be in discussions with Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board to seek a number of assurances on behalf of patients and people in relation to this matter.”
The recent report into the culture of the hospital’s operating theatres revealed problems with staff drug use, racism, theft, an “atmosphere of fear”, and dilapidated facilities. You can read more about that here.
South Wales Police was unable to find a record of the investigation into damaged theatre trays.
If you would like to speak to WalesOnline about a story we should be investigating, email us at conor.gogarty@walesonline.co.uk