A live major incident exercise was held at Ysbyty Gwynedd to test the response of staff to a major incident.

Exercise Gwiber Goch was organised by anaesthetist Dr Mark Knights and supported by colleagues from within the hospital.

The exercise has taken several months to come to fruition, after discussions and preparations began earlier in the year.

The scenario involved a number of casualties, played by actors and medical students, being brought into hospital.

The teams who took part in the exercise were from the emergency, pathology, critical care and radiology departments and various theatres.

Care was taken to ensure the exercise would not interfere with routine services provided in the emergency department or elsewhere in the hospital.

Dr Knights said: “Major incident practice is critical to allow staff to be ready should a major incident ever occur.

“Today tested the response of staff to an urgent and constantly changing situation and it provided us with a fantastic learning opportunity.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in the planning of this exercise and also to the 24 medical students who gave up their time to play the role of the casualties.”

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