Godfrey Charnley: Spoon was '"ridiculous" option

Terence Lewis made the comments during the case in which orthopaedic surgeon Godfrey Charnley is claiming unfair constructive dismissal.

Mr Charnley, 43, claims that during a hip operation at Derriford Hospital, he was offered a dessert spoon, which he then threw on the theatre floor.

Mr Lewis said he used a spoon "an awful lot".

My colleagues still continue to use a spoon to this day Terence Lewis

Referring to a spoon which was couriered to the Exeter employment tribunal from the Plymouth hospital, he said: "The spoon you were shown the other day has probably saved a number of lives."

He explained that a spoon could be used to aid the insertion of stitches.

"It is a very good instrument," he said. "My colleagues still continue to use a spoon to this day."

Virus fear

Mr Charnley says he should have been given a special sharp spoon, or curette, which is used to scrape off cartilage and damaged bone round the hip socket.

At an earlier hearing, he called the spoon a "ridiculous option".

Mr Lewis said he called Mr Charnley to a meeting over the spoon throwing, attended by himself and chairman-elect of the hospital medical staff committee, Dennis Wilkins.

"It is easy to trivialise, but it is not a trivial matter," said Mr Lewis.

He said it was very easy for viruses such as hepatitis to be transmitted, and the instrument would have to be picked up off the floor by someone.

Cash fear

The spoon throwing was finally dealt with as an informal matter and no further action was taken, the tribunal was told.

Mr Lewis was also accused of putting pressure on Mr Charnley over waiting lists at the meeting.

"It was only a small part of the interview," said Mr Lewis, adding they were trying "to do their best to put a career, which seemed to be at risk, back on line."

He said it was explained to Mr Charnley there was �2m to �2.5m of funding which would not be received if waiting list targets were breached.

But anyone - not just Mr Charnley - could have caused the loss of that money if targets were not co-operated with.

Mr Charnley resigned in December, 2001, and claimed there had been a breach of contract over the way the disciplinary issue was dealt with.

The hearing continues.