Swab left in patient's throat sparks 'never event' investigation at Shropshire hospital
A swab was left inside a patient's throat after they underwent surgery at one of Shropshire's two main hospitals, it was today revealed.
It is the second reported 'never event' in the space of three months for the trust that controls the hospitals. Health officials say 'never events' are serious incidents that are considered wholly preventable.
The details of the dental surgery on November 17 last year have been revealed in papers due to be presented to the board of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group on Wednesday.
But Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, has refused to comment while an investigation is ongoing.
A report will be presented to the trust's board on January 28. It comes after a patient had the wrong skin lesion removed at one of the hospitals in September.
The CCG papers detailing the latest reported 'never event' say the trust has reported to commissioners that a patient receiving dental surgery was discovered to have a retained swab in their throat when in the anaesthetic recovery department.
The trust reported: "The patient's condition was reported as good following the removal of the swab. A full investigation is being undertaken by the trust."
It said to prevent a recurrence an alert was immediately circulated through all theatre areas (including doctors) to advise of the incident and of the swab count policy.
It added: "Secondly, the following morning there was a theatre department team meeting prior to the lists for that day to inform them verbally of the incident and reiterate the swab count policy.
"And finally it has been documented on the theatre allocation board of the importance of checking for throat packs and that all staff were to ensure that they had read the swab count policy."
