'Lying down' NHS staff suspended

The Lying Down Game is popular on the internet

Staff at Swindon's Great Western Hospital face possible dismissal after posting online pictures of themselves taking part in the Lying Down Game.

Seven hospital staff have been suspended for their part in the game, played in mid August.

The game involves being pictured lying down with arms by your side and toes pointing towards the floor.

A hospital official said: "Disciplinary hearings are yet to take place and we cannot predict the outcome."

The images, since removed, were posted on the social networking site Facebook under the title Secret Swindon Emergency Department Group.

In the spirit of the game, extra points are awarded for being pictured in unusual settings.

It is understood staff were pictured lying down on the hospital's resuscitation trolleys, ward floors and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance helipad.

Great Western Hospital medical director Dr Alf Troughton 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.

"The allegations have been thoroughly investigated and seven members of staff remain suspended pending formal disciplinary hearings."