Number of NHS Blunders DOUBLES in Three Years

Official documents have revealed that the number of errors in the NHS where surgeons mistakenly removed body parts and organs from patients, has more than doubled in the last three years.

The papers from NHS England have revealed a huge surge in 'wrong site surgeries.' There were 54 such incidents reported in the year 2012-13, but that figure shot up to 135 incidents in 2015-16.

In one incident, a patient had her fallopian tubes removed instead of her appendix. The NHS document explained 'Patient pregnant, anatomy distorted.'

The life-changing error will have reduced the chance of the woman being able to conceive another child naturally.

A patient's 'distorted anatomy' was also used to explain a separate incident in which a patient had a kidney taken out, when the actual procedure should have been the removal of a pelvic tumour.

A spokesman for the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) suggested that part of the rise could simply be down to better reporting, saying:

"The drive towards greater reporting and transparency of patient safety incidents in the NHS in recent years may partly explain the rise.

"[Wrong site surgery can be] devastating for patients and their surgeon, even if no serious harm is done. While these incidents are very rare, never should mean never.

If your health has suffered due to mistakes made by healthcare professionals, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our team in confidence on 0161 627 2469 for more information.

Mellor Hargreaves Ltd

Medical Negligence Solicitors