Compensation stemming from medical accidents
A mother of four has been offered an unreserved apology after surgeons left a seven-inch set of forceps inside her.
She is also filing a compensation claim because of the medical negligence that took place during the procedure.
The woman, who works as a nurse in Worcester, went for a routine operation to remove her gall bladder but was discharged - unknown to her with the metal surgical tool still in her abdomen.
However, according to Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust, since the incident took place, safety standards have improved at Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, where the operation was carried out.
The woman, who lives in Redditch, has now launched legal action with the help of personal injury lawyers, against the hospital after claiming she was left in agony following the medical blunder. The forceps were only revealed after she had an X-ray.
Speaking out, the 39-year-old told how she was left in 'horrendous' pain after the operation last year.
She also said: "I still can't believe it's happened in this day and age. It might have damaged my internal organs."
Steps for improvement
John Rostill, the chief executive of the hospital trust, said: "We would like to apologise unreservedly to the woman for any pain or distress she has suffered.
"We strive to provide the safest, highest quality care possible for all our patients."
Mr Rostill also stated: "In the 12 months since this extremely unusual incident we have taken a number of steps to further improve standards of safety."
He concluded by saying: "The matter is currently the subject of a claim brought by her solicitors and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further in those circumstances."
A recent report from a charity found that three quarters of NHS trusts are endangering patients, because they do not comply with safety alerts - which are meant to stop fatal errors recurring.
Action for Victims of Medical Accidents (AvMA) found that some 300 trusts had not complied with at least one patient safety alert despite the deadline passing.
AvMA's Chief Executive said: "Lives are being put at risk."
Trusts causing fatal accidents to reoccur
The Department of Health said it expected all trusts to follow up with the alerts and to 'record and action them'.
It added: "The department will shortly be issuing all NHS organisations a formal reminder of their obligations to do this."
It was revealed that Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust, based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, failed to update fully its own policy in the light of advice from the National Patient Safety Agency about the right way to test the position of feeding tubes.
A year later, a male patient died a 'tortured' death when a nasal-gastric feeding tube was inserted into his lung instead of his stomach, the programme found.
Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust would not comment in detail on the specific case for legal reasons.
Mr Walsh said he was shocked by the data. He added: "There is actually no system in place to systematically monitor compliance and follow-up with the trusts."
The Department of Heath said that from April, the Care Quality Commission would have improved powers to monitor incidents and to ensure compliance with alerts.
Updated on 23/02/2010