New data lifts lid on extent of NHS surgical mistakes
Over 400 serious surgical mistakes, termed "never events', occurred in NHS hospitals between April 2024 and March 2025.
The incidents encompassed 46 operations on the wrong body part and multiple cases where surgical instruments were left inside patients.
One patient suffered permanent spinal cord damage after a surgeon mistakenly removed parts of her vertebrae instead of operating on her cervical rib.
The Royal College of Surgeons has urged NHS hospitals to thoroughly investigate the increase in these incidents to prevent their recurrence.
The NHS said that these incidents are rare but are investigated for learning and improvement.
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