'Lying down' staff let off

14 Oct 2009

Seven members of staff at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon who were suspended for playing the 'lying down game' have been reinstated.

The suspensions followed allegations in August that staff from the Accident and Emergency department had taken pictures of themselves lying on resuscitation trolleys, wards floors and the trust’s helipad during a nightshift.

The images, which have now been removed, were posted on the social networking site, Facebook, under the title Secret Swindon Emergency Department Group.

In a statement released today, the trust said it had made a decision not to dismiss any of those involved.

“The trust has completed the disciplinary hearing for emergency department staff involved in the ‘lying down’ game. We’re glad the staff are back doing what they do best. They need to understand unprofessional behavior is unacceptable.”

In August, the trust said the prank did not involve patients and that patient care was not compromised.

Today's statement added: “All staff are now back at work, there have been no dismissals. We aim to deliver safe, high quality care for each of our patients to achieve this we expect staff to behave in an appropriate manner at all times.”

Sarah Bruce

Trust stands up to lying down (10 Sep 2009) (6)

Reader's Comments

Well that's alright then

15 Oct 09 21:10

I have been sitting here for the last five minutes trying to think of something to say about this story, but I can't, I just can't. I suppose "Dear Swindon Trust Senior Management Team, get a life", but even that doesn't even come close to saying it.

Seriously???!

16 Oct 09 09:10

Don't we all have more serious things to worry about? Is a sense of humour the latest victim of the financial crisis in the nation's Trusts? Perhaps we should have a whip round to buy it back.

sense of humour failure

16 Oct 09 11:10

I agree with the other comments. What cost suspension rather than a simple ticking off by the CEO with the message of don't do it again!

Policy changes?

16 Oct 09 16:10

How long until all our HR policies have a section about "what not to do on social networking sites" under the section "Things to get in perspective and move on" I think its between the car lease sections and maternity leave in guidelines!!

Sack the lot of them

20 Oct 09 13:10

Not the staff just the idiots who suspended these staff.

What did you expect?

20 Oct 09 16:10

Why is it so difficult to accept that these people were suspended because they did something which could have endangered patient care? The trust had to go through due process to protect itself. What would the response had been if this game was exposed by the press rather than the trust? People would be screaming that there was a coverup if the staff hadn't been sacked.