Brighton Surgeon Used Penknife in Emergency Operation, Sparking Investigation

The incident at Royal Sussex County Hospital has led to scrutiny of the NHS trust's practices and a police probe into medical negligence.

A surgeon at Royal Sussex County Hospital used a Swiss Army penknife on a patient in cardiac arrest due to the unavailability of a sterile scalpel.
The patient survived, but the surgeon's actions were deemed outside normal procedures, prompting an internal review and procedural changes.
Sussex Police are investigating over 100 cases of alleged medical negligence at the trust, including potential manslaughter charges.
The Care Quality Commission found no regulatory breaches in surgeries linked to the surgeon, but the trust identified areas for improvement.
Whistleblower reports have alleged a 'culture of fear' and inadequate training within the neurosurgery department at the trust.