Surgery's Dirty Secrets

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Duration: 30 minutes

Vigorous investigation of a topical issue. Panorama investigates concerns about the quality of surgical instruments being used on patients in the UK. Reporter Samantha Poling hears from those working inside the NHS who claim that tools with dangerous defects are being supplied to hospitals.

Panorama travels to Pakistan, where the majority of the world's surgical instruments are made, and finds an industry blighted by poor quality control and child labour where workers manufacture tools for £2 a day. Reporter Sam Poling asks whether the NHS is sourcing goods ethically and is doing all it can to protect the health of its patients.

Last on

Tue 5 Jul 2011 00:55 BBC One Wales only

See all previous episodes from Panorama

  • Surgical tools used in NHS operations 'substandard'

    Surgical tools used in NHS operations 'substandard'

    The BBC has discovered that poor-quality surgical instruments are being supplied to the NHS.
    Panorama has found that the shoddy equipment, which is imported, could leave patients vulnerable to potentially life-threatening injury or infection.
    The medical products regulatory agency, the MHRA, said it had no evidence of non-compliant instruments being supplied to the health service.
    Samantha Poling reports.

    Watch the BBC News report

  • Surgical tools used in NHS operations 'substandard'

    Surgical tools used in NHS operations 'substandard'

    Substandard surgical tools from Pakistan are putting UK patients at risk of potentially deadly injury and infection, BBC Panorama has found.

    Read about Panorama's investigation

  • NHS responses to Panorama

    NHS responses to Panorama

    The governments in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland gave the following responses to Panorama: Surgery's Dirty Secrets.

    Read the responses in full

  • Surgery's Dirty Secrets - join in the debate

    Surgery's Dirty Secrets - join in the debate

    Read other viewers comments or leave your own on our blog forum

  • Panorama 2000 to 2008

    Panorama 2000 to 2008

    If you'd like to know more about Panorama programmes between 2000 - 2008, including features, transcripts, video content and more, please click on the link below.

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Credits

Reporter
Samantha Poling
Producer
Liam McDougall

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of Surgery's Dirty Secrets (5)

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