A total of 19 serious patient safety incidents occurred in Greater Manchester hospitals over an eight-month period last year, according to a new report.
A recently published NHS report has revealed that the ‘never events’ occurred at a total of six Greater Manchester hospital trusts – with the North West seeing the highest number in England at a total of 48 ‘never events’.
NHS England describes ‘never events’ as “serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur if healthcare providers have implemented existing national guidance or safety recommendations”.
These can include retained foreign objects post procedures or administration of medication via the wrong route. The most common type of ‘never event’ last year was wrong site surgery.
The data has been reported by NHS England and covers April 2024 to December 2024.
The provisional figures indicate nineteen ‘never events’ occurred in the Greater Manchester area within that time.
Provisional ‘Never Events’ reported April 2024 – December 2024 across Greater Manchester
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – 3
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust – 7
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust – 1
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust – 3
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust – 1
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust – 4
Source: NHS England
A Medical Negligence Assist report found that retained foreign object claims cost the NHS more than £30 million in over just five years.
A review of incidents by Medical Negligence Assist found that forceps, wires, needles, screws, parts of drills and swabs were all among the items left inside patients’ bodies in error.
Sophie Cope, a clinical negligence solicitor for Medical Negligence Assist, said: “Foreign body cases are thankfully not too common but, when they happen, they can have a significant impact on a person’s life. If someone suffers avoidable harm due to negligent care, they have a right to seek compensation.”
Anyone affected by a ‘never event’ is encouraged to speak to a solicitor to see whether they could make a claim.
NHS England was contacted for comment.