Startling NHS statistics have revealed that there were 70 incidents where patients had the wrong part of their body operated on, and 161 incidents where 'foreign objects' were left inside a patient after an operation. The medical negligence data, collated over a period of two years also shows that there were a total of 326 events that the NHS have deemed 'should never have happened'.
These so called 'never events' also included 41 incidents involving the wrong implant or prosthesis and 23 incidents of misplaced nasogastric tubes.
These statistics are a damning indication of the quality of the service offered by some NHS trusts. As mentioned in an earlier Fieldfisher news story measures have been implemented to prevent the NHS receiving money when they are responsible for these 'never events'.
Mark Bowman, Senior Associate and medical negligence claims expert commented: "It is understandable that when dealing with such a high level of immensely complicated surgical procedures that some errors will be made. However, the number of these 'never events' is a huge concern. Patients are entitled to demand a certain level of care while being operated on. These incidents are clearly in breach of that duty. I have recently settled a claim in similar circumstances, where a pair of surgical forceps were left inside my client's abdomen after a routine operation. It is clear that the health authority needs to examine these statistics and put measures in place to completely eradicate these preventable incidents".
To read more about these statistics click this link to an article in the Guardian.
If you have been the victim of medical negligence, contact Mark Bowman on 0330 460 6794 to enquire about making a claim. Or alternatively email him on mark.bowman@fieldfisher.com.