Over 400 Preventable Patient Safety Incidents Recorded Across NHS in One Year
Over 400 Preventable Patient Safety Incidents Recorded Across NHS in One Year
Over 400 Preventable Patient Safety Incidents Recorded Across NHS in One Year
Hundreds of patients across England’s National Health Service (NHS) were affected by serious medical errors over the past year, according to newly released data showing 403 “never events” between April 2025 and March 2026.
Never events are defined as serious patient safety incidents that are largely preventable and should not occur if established safety procedures are properly followed.
An analysis of the figures revealed that 166 incidents were linked to wrong-site surgery and related errors. These included 17 cases in which patients underwent procedures intended for someone else, while 40 incidents involved treatment being carried out on the wrong side or part of the body.
In one case, a patient had an organ or body part removed despite plans for it to be preserved.
The data also recorded 121 incidents involving foreign objects being left inside patients following surgical procedures. Among the items reported were guide wires, surgical instruments, needles, swabs, surgical gloves, cotton wool balls, a nasal pack and a central catheter line.
Several other cases involved patients receiving procedures that were not part of their treatment plans. Four patients underwent entirely incorrect procedures, while six suffered incisions on the wrong body part.
The figures further showed that 30 patients received injections at the wrong site, 38 were given nerve blocks on the wrong side of the body, and 22 had the wrong skin lesion removed or underwent an incorrect biopsy.
A total of 50 incidents involved the implantation of the wrong prosthesis or medical device. These included errors involving hip implants, knee replacements, eye lenses and intrauterine contraceptive devices.
Medication-related errors also featured prominently in the data. Seventeen incidents involved medicines being administered through the wrong route, including 15 cases where medication intended for oral use was given intravenously.
Additionally, 14 patients received insulin overdoses, while nine were transfused with the wrong blood type.
Other reported incidents included three falls from inadequately restricted windows, two cases of patients being scalded or burned by excessively hot water, and one case in which a patient was connected to an air supply instead of oxygen.
Despite the seriousness of the incidents, the total number of 403 never events remained unchanged from the previous reporting year.
Responding to the figures, an NHS spokesperson said healthcare workers across the service remain committed to patient safety and that such incidents are extremely rare compared to the millions of treatments delivered annually.
The spokesperson added that whenever a never event occurs, NHS trusts are required to conduct thorough investigations, identify the causes and implement measures aimed at preventing similar incidents from happening again.
The latest figures have renewed calls from patient safety advocates for continued improvements in clinical procedures, staff training and hospital safety systems to reduce preventable harm and strengthen public confidence in healthcare services.
Sky News
Over 400 Preventable Patient Safety Incidents Recorded Across NHS in One Year
