Royal Gwent Hospital Patients Treated with Unsterilised Instruments Twenty-one patients at Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport were treated using unsterilised surgical instruments between February 25 and 26, according to an apology issued by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. The tools, which were only disinfected on February 24 and not fully sterilised, posed a potential risk of blood-borne virus transmission. The error was discovered during a routine inspection on February 27 but was not disclosed to patients until March 16. The health board stated that the clinical risk of infection was considered extremely low, though precautionary testing and support were arranged for affected individuals. A spokesman acknowledged the distress caused by the incident, describing it as a "very limited" event and reassuring the public there was no broader impact. The board confirmed it was investigating the failure and pledged to implement measures to prevent recurrence. The Welsh government expressed awareness of the patient safety issue, noting that affected patients had been supported and no evidence of wider consequences had been found. Llais, a Welsh health and social care advocacy group, emphasized the importance of transparency and thorough investigations to rebuild trust. Plaid Cymru condemned the "terrifying" failings, calling for accountability, while the Welsh Conservative Party demanded a full inquiry into the incident. Reform’s Laura Anne Jones criticized the three-week delay in informing patients, describing the situation as "scandalous." The health board reiterated its commitment to patient safety, stating that those affected had been directly contacted and that no further action was required beyond the current measures.#royal_gwent_hospital #newport #aneurin_bevan_university_health_board #llais #plaid_cymru
