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<\/p>\nTHIRTY patients a month suffer from \u201cnever event\u201d medical blunders, NHS files reveal.<\/p>\n
Victims have woken from surgery to find a wrong rib removed or they have had laser eye treatment intended for someone else.<\/p>\n
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Complaints were also lodged over drill bits found in patients on four occasions and guide-wire left in 18 times after ops. <\/p>\n
One claim involved a patient trapped between a mattress and a bedrail.<\/p>\n
Data published by the NHS shows 297 rare incidents \u2014 errors that should never happen if protocol is followed \u2014 in England in the ten months to January.<\/p>\n
But The Sun on Sunday can also reveal \u00a36.5million was spent on damages and legal costs in the year for 2019\/20 over foreign objects left in place. <\/p>\n
More than half that went on legal fees \u2014 \u00a32.9million run up by complainants and \u00a3500,000 by the NHS.<\/p>\n
Pay-outs for surgery performed on the wrong site, or another body part, saw \u00a3720,000 given to patients and \u00a3712,000 to their lawyers \u2014 with \u00a386,000 going on NHS legal fees.<\/p>\n
Some \u00a324million has gone on compensation over the past five years for bungled ops.<\/p>\n
Peter Walsh, of patients\u2019 safety charity Action against Medical Accidents, said: \u201cThe NHS is spending millions of taxpayers\u2019 money in compensating people for avoidable injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt needs to do more to ensure measures available to prevent these incidents are implemented \u2014 and it needs to be quicker to adopt new technology that can further improve patient safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NHS said: \u201cThese events are extremely rare and the NHS is undertaking a review as hospitals prioritise patient safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL\u00a0exclusive@the-sun.co.uk<\/strong><\/p>\n