Hospital students bondage party anger

A medical students' 'bondage and fetish' party being held at a hospital social club has been attacked as potentially "distressing" to patients.

The University Hospital of Wales's patients association said that posters advertising the evening have been put up in parts of the site and they feel they are in appropriate.

Seeing people dressed up going to and from the party in the hospital could distress patients

Simon Williams, Patients Association

They depict an image of an dominatrix and a semi-naked man clad wearing leather trousers.

Mr Williams said the medical students had a "duty of care for the respect and dignity of patients at all times," said association spokesman Simon Williams.

"Seeing people dressed up going to and from the party in the hospital could distress patients," he added.

Party theme "We are concerned this is not appropriate. Students have always had parties - and no one would want to stop that. But we are concerned at the theme of the party.

"There are plenty of places such a party could be held such as in a club in the city centre."

On Friday around 500 student nurses and trainee doctors - studying at the University of Wales College of Medicine at the hospital - plant to swap bandages for bondage gear at the party.

But the college said they were happy for the event to take place at the hospital's Med Club.

The party is being held at the hospital's social club

Spokeswoman Mary Leyshon said: "The posters are not displayed in public areas and there is no nudity on them. The party is just a bit of fun. Students might even take whips and chains with them - but I doubt they would actually use them.

"Everybody knows that medical students work hard and like to play hard too."

Tim Saunders, vice-president of the college's student union, said the event was part of a regular series of fancy dress parties.

He said: "They are popular nights and students like to dress up. In the past we have held beach parties and back to school nights.

"We have been careful to only display the posters in student areas where patients shouldn't really be able to see them."