Operation blunders lead to posters reminding doctors to check they have the correct patient

Two NHS hospitals have placed posters in operating theatres to remind surgeons to check they have the correct patient, following four mishaps in the space of two months.

These ‘never events’, incidents that would not have occurred had the proper guidance been followed, included surgeons placing an endoscopy camera in the wrong patient, and another saw a surgical cup being left inside a patient.

In England, 181 ‘never events’ have already occurred in 2018, including a patient having her ovaries removed by mistake. Other incidents include patients having unnecessary bowel examinations, laser-eye surgery, or being overdosed on the wrong medication.

467 never events were recorded in England in 2017 and 466 in 2016.

News editor of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Kate Andrews, said “Substantial reform of the system, so it is better focussed on patient care, would likely reduce the number of ‘never events’ that occur each year.

“Sadly, with no meaningful plans for reform on the agenda, completely unnecessary – and largely frightening – errors like this continue to occur and are failing to decline.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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