The Lying Down Game: players try to outdo each other by lying down in the most original locations

Times Online Reports

Seven staff from a hospital’s accident and emergency unit have been suspended after taking part in an internet craze known as the “Lying Down Game".

Participants have to post photographs of themselves lying face down arms by their sides in unlikely situations.

The doctors and nurses who were working an overnight shift on August 14 and August 15 took turns to be photographed on resuscitation trolleys, ward floors and the hospital’s heli-pad.

The photographs were put on a Facebook page set up by A&E staff at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire. They were suspended after management were alerted to the prank and now fear they could lose their jobs.

The Lying Down Game described as “parkour for those who can’t be arsed” became an international craze earlier this summer when pictures were published of participants lying on ironing boards, cars, mountain tops and even a life size statue of a grizzly bear.

An employee at the Great Western Hospital today described the suspensions as a ”nightmare” for those involved.

He said: ”The person who started it is really worried. It reflects badly on the department and some people may lose their jobs.

“It was just some nurses and doctors on nights having fun, but photos got onto Facebook and management found out. Someone in the department leaked the group, but no-one knows who. Health and safety and infection control issues have all been broken.

“I think it’ll be serious for the one who set up the Facebook group and took the photos and I’m really glad I didn’t get involved.”

The stunt involved a total of 18 A&E and Acute Assessment Unit staff. Seven of the group have been suspended on full pay and will now face formal disciplinary hearings.

The photographs were posted on Facebook by a group calling itself the Secret Swindon Emergency Department Group. It has since been removed by the website.

A spokesman for GWH confirmed that health and safety and infection control regulations had been broken as well as the NHS and Trust code of conduct.

He refused to rule out sackings and said: ”The disciplinary hearings are yet to take place and we cannot predict the outcome.”

Dr Alf Troughton, medical director for Great Western Hospital NHS Trust, confirmed the suspensions but said that patient care had not been affected.

He 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.

“It is important to reassure patients and our workforce that this was an isolated incident and staff cover was maintained at all times.

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

The Facebook page for the Lying Down Game claims to have more than 54,000 members worldwide.

It describes itself as a group for all those who “enjoy the sport of lying down in random public places to confuse people”.

It adds: “The originators of the Lying Down Game cannot be held liable for any accidents, injuries or criminal proceedings resulting from participating in the Game.”

Simon Newell, a spokesman for the union UNISON represents nearly 250,000 nurses, yesterday urged the Swindon health trust to ”consider past service” before dismissing any of the staff involved.

He said: ”We wouldn’t condone unprofessional conduct in any work place environment, although we do acknowledge that staff in hospitals constantly work under a great deal of pressure and scrutiny.

“This sort of incident is unfortunate but rare. We are led to believe that a number of codes may have been breached, although we also understand that at no time patients’ safety or healthcare was directly compromised.

“That being the case, we would urge the Trust, when deciding upon the future of these highly skilled staff, to consider recent events within the context of the good services these staff have provided in the past.”