Surgeon used Swiss army knife he uses to cut up lunch on a patient

A surgeon used a Swiss army knife to open up the chest of a patient in cardiac arrest because he claimed he could not find a sterile scalpel.

The patient, treated at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in December 2023, survived, but the BBC has reported that internal documents show how colleagues felt the surgeon’s behaviour was ‘questionable’.

The NHS trust that runs the hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said the patient was due to have an emergency operation but went into cardiac arrest before going into theatre which meant life-saving care was needed.

The trust’s chief medical officer, Professor Catherine Urch, said: ‘In December 2023, a patient due to have an emergency operation went into cardiac arrest before going into theatre, and as a result needed immediate, life-saving care.

‘The patient’s life was thankfully saved as a result of the actions of the surgical team, but everyone involved has accepted that those actions taken in the moment were outside normal procedures, and should not have been necessary.’

It was found that the surgeon used the knife he normally uses to cut fruit for his lunch.

‘The surgeon involved reported the incident, and together with the wider team they have reviewed what happened, to learn lessons.’

They added: ‘The patient was fully informed as part of our commitment to duty of candour, and the team rapidly made changes as a result, as well as sharing their learning with colleagues at patient safety meetings.’

Prof Graeme Poston, an expert witness on clinical negligence and a former consultant surgeon, told the BBC: ‘It surprises me and appals me. Firstly, a penknife is not sterile. Secondly it is not an operating instrument. And thirdly all the kit [must have been] there.’

It comes as Sussex Police are investigating allegations of medical negligence at the trust between 2015 to 2021, relating to neurosurgery and general surgery at the Brighton hospital.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: ‘A number of cases from within the specified NHS departments and during the specified time period have been assessed and are forming part of the ongoing investigation.

‘A dedicated team of specially trained officers are in contact with those patients or families of patients whose cases are included in the investigation and providing information to support them while the investigation is ongoing.’

Nisha Sharma, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who is acting for patients and families in cases of poor standards of care at the Royal Sussex, said: ‘For months, we have been shocked by ongoing details emerging from the Royal Sussex, but this case involving the surgeon using his own penknife is absolutely appalling.

The facts that are being uncovered about practices at this hospital are genuinely shocking to the community – people living in Brighton rely on the Royal Sussex for their own care and that of their families, and this is yet another reason for them to be deeply concerned.’

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