CUH staff member knocked unconscious by low hanging light

You’ve heard the one about the number of orthopaedic surgeons it takes to change a lightbulb?

None. They only work with sockets.

However, orthopaedic surgeons at Cork University Hospital (CUH) must wish they had the nous to correct problems posed by low-hanging light fittings in a refurbished operating theatre where, it is alleged, one member of staff was momentarily knocked out and at least one other was left requiring stitches.

The Irish Examiner has been told that, in order to address the problem, staff members were offered spatial awareness training.

It has been claimed that the height of the lighting in the theatre, which opened in April 2013 following a €1.6m refurbishment of theatres and the CT scanner room, has posed problems from the get-go.

It appears that the installation of a hi-tech air conditioning system known as laminar flow — which reduces risk of infection — resulted in a reduced ceiling height in the theatre. This, in turn, lowered the height of the lighting.

A source told the Irish Examiner that now, anyone over circa 5’ 2” who enters the theatre when the lights are lowered risks the possibility of injury.

“At least one person was knocked out momentarily. At least one other required stitches,” the source said.

Others had been “whacked on the head”, the source added.

The Irish Examiner was told that the problems posed by the lighting had been repeatedly raised with management, but staff were concerned that the theatre could be closed on health and safety grounds if they continued to protest.

When this newspaper asked the Health Service Executive if low-level lighting in the new orthopaedic theatre had resulted in injury to staff, and if staff had been sent for spatial awareness training, the initial response was: “In line with protecting staff confidentiality, CUH are not in a position to answer this query.”

When we pursued the matter, a further response ensued, which said: “All theatre refurbishments are carried out in line with present guidelines to include the placement of light fittings and in consultation with theatre staff and their requirements.”

Which leaves us not quite in the dark, but in need of a response that could shed a little more light on the subject.