NHS staff suspended over 'lying down game'

Hospital staff in Swindon, including doctors, have been suspended for allegedly taking part in an internet craze known as the "lying down game" while on duty, an NHS trust said.

Seven staff remain suspended on full pay following the alleged incident, which is said to have taken place during a night shift on 14 August into 15 August.

Doctors and nurses from the hospital's accident and emergency department and acute assessment unit photographed each other lying face down throughout the hospital.

The medical staff were pictured on resuscitation trolleys, ward floors and on the Wiltshire Air Ambulance heli-pad.

The pictures were then posted on social networking site Facebook where hospital management spotted them, but the images have since been taken down.

Those who take part in the game must lie face down with the palms of their hands flat against their sides and the tips of their toes pointing at the ground.

In a statement, Dr Alf Troughton, medical director of Great Western Hospital NHS Trust, said seven staff remained suspended and disciplinary hearings would be held.

He said: "A number of staff were suspended following allegations of unprofessional conduct while on night shift duty in the hospital during a weekend in August.

"This did not involve patients and we are satisfied that at no time was patient care compromised.

"The Great Western Hospital sets high standards for staff behaviour at all times and therefore takes any such breaches extremely seriously."