The Health Minister has placed Belfast Trust under the highest level of intervention amid serious concern over behavioural and cultural issues.

The unprecedented move by Mike Nesbitt was taken after UTV revealed the details of a damning inspection report into the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Unit.

UTV uncovered that a culture of poor behaviour by some heart surgeons at the unit led to a “significant risk to patient safety,” as seen in a damning inspection report.

UTV also spoke to a patient who witnessed extraordinary behaviour while on the operating table who alleged she was told to shut up and had gloves thrown at her.

In a written statement to the Assembly on Thursday the minister said: "The department’s performance accountability process for Belfast Trust has been

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