‘Never Events’ Expose Disturbing Instances of Medical Mishaps
Newly released figures shed light on the most prevalent medical errors occurring at NHS hospitals, with some cases categorised as ‘never events’—errors deemed so severe that they should never occur.
The data, spanning from April 2015 to September 2023, exposes alarming instances of medical mishaps, including operations performed on the wrong part of the body and instances where surgical equipment was unintentionally left inside patients.
The most frequently reported ‘never event’ was ‘wrong site surgery,’ encompassing procedures conducted on the wrong patient or the incorrect part of a patient’s body. Shockingly, this occurred a staggering 1,584 times during the specified period.
These incidents have prompted the necessity for immediate reporting and thorough investigations to identify the root causes and prevent future occurrences.
Another alarming revelation from the figures is the occurrence of ‘retained foreign object post-procedure.’ This error involves leaving a ‘foreign object,’ such as medical equipment, inside a patient following surgery. The data exposes 852 instances of this mistake over the eight-year period.
The gravity of these errors displays the critical need for enhanced protocols and heightened awareness within the healthcare system. As these figures come to light, questions about patient safety and the measures in place to prevent such serious mistakes are at the forefront of public concern.
The NHS is now under increasing pressure to address these issues promptly, implement corrective measures, and ensure transparency in reporting to safeguard patient well-being.
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