HOSPITAL chiefs in Carlisle and Whitehaven say there is no evidence of harm to scores of theatres who worked during the pandemic with respirator masks which were not 'fit tested.'

That is one of the key findings of an internal investigation.

It was ordered by bosses at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which manages both The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

When the issue came to light, The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accused the trust of "reckless" behaviour, claiming the failure - over a five weeks - may have put lives at risk.

The masks - known as FFP3 - were issued to 130 theatre staff during April but not 'fit-tested" - the procedure that ensures they are airtight enough to prevent infection from minute droplets.

In a report issued today, the trust said its investigation highlighted how:

* The failing came amid an "unprecedented situation in which guidance and supply of FFP3 masks was changing rapidly."

* Decisions were made with the best intentions based on the difficulties in understanding the masks supply chain to the hospital, though the investigation highlighted processes that could have been followed were not.

* There was "no evidence of physical harm to staff", though distress and anxiety was caused.

The report adds: "We are reiterating our apology to staff and our commitment to support the health and wellbeing of all of our staff seriously.

"The investigation provides us with information and learning that we can embed across the organisation including improving how information reaches our teams on the ground."

The trust said routine processes are now in place to ensure fit testing is provided to those staff who need it and there are systems to review this regularly.

The report speaks also of "communication difficulties" exacerbated by the trust’s management structures going through significant change and a number of vacancies did not help the flow of information.

In a statement, the trust said: "The report did highlight good practice, specifically the way in which our clinical teams responded to the challenge through redeployment and working collaboratively. It noted that when fit testing was re-established the health and safety teams went over and above what is expected to ensure fit testing was available and provided to all staff who required it."

The Trust was now focussing on learning from the investigation, added the statement.

Commenting at the time, Glenn Turp, Director for the RCN Northern Region, said members at the trust were devastated by what happened.

“It is appalling that theatre staff have continued to work unaware of a serious problem with their masks for some five weeks," he said.

"It took a whistleblower to raise concerns otherwise this could have gone unnoticed for much longer."