Probe after nurses tie colleague to a commode and pour 'fake human waste' over her as a prank

By Rob Cooper


Shameful: The nurse, who is believed to have been leaving Frenchay Hospital, had the bucket of waste poured over her while she was strapped to the commode


A group of nurses were today being investigated by health chiefs after strapping a colleague to a commode and pouring fake waste over her as a leaving prank.

The brunette nurse - wearing her full uniform - was tied to the mobile chair outside a ward in full view of patients and relatives.

As the bowl of thick brown mess was poured over her head the group of nurses cheered. The group were responsible for looking after recently admitted patients at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

The chief executive today condemned the nurses who took part in the leaving send-off and described the stunt as 'completely unacceptable'. The Nursing and Midwifery Council also said nurses should be better behaved.


A passing visitor photographed the incident and reported it to senior managers.
The woman - who wishes to remain anonymous - said: 'I witnessed staff behaving badly outside the ward for everyone to see.

'A sister had tied a member of staff to a commode and poured God knows what over her while other members of staff looked on laughing.

'If all the staff were outside cheering then who was watching the patients? I believe that the ward they were outside is an admissions ward, so there would have been extremely sick patients on there.

'I have a sick relative who I was visiting and I found this behaviour unacceptable and very distressing.'

The incident happened two weeks ago outside Ward 105 which is an acute assessment unit. The nurse had finished her last shift when the incident happened.

Probe: A group of nursing staff watch as a ward sister pours the brown waste over the nurse who is sat on a mobile toilet. The hospital is investigating


Probe: The Frenchay Hospital in Bristol have launched an investigation as the chief executive, Ruth Brunt, described the incident as 'unacceptable'


The nurse was tied to the seat with bandages before a colleague - apparently a ward sister - poured the mess over her from a blue bowl.

North Bristol NHS Trust is now investigating the incident which is believed to have taken place because the nurse is leaving.

Ruth Brunt, chief executive of the Trust, said: 'We do not condone this type of behaviour from our staff and I would like to apologise to the member of the public who witnessed this.

'At no time was patient care affected or interrupted.

'It would appear that these nurses were participating in a send off to mark their colleague’s last shift. However this happened at an inappropriate time and place and was an error of judgement.

'We are investigating this incident. Clearly what these photos show is unacceptable behaviour and I am very disappointed that this took place.

'I would like to reassure members of the public that this is not representative of the usual good behaviour and professionalism of our nursing staff.'

A spokeswoman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council added: 'This is not the type of behaviour we would expect to see from nurses.

'The Nursing and Midwifery Council code makes
it clear that nurses and midwives must uphold the reputation of the profession at all times.'


source:dailymail