Surgeons left 19 pieces of kit in patients

A HEALTH board has been criticised after it emerged surgeons left a total of 19 pieces of medical equipment inside patients following operations.

Surgeons at NHS Tayside left swabs, the tips of guide wires and of suture needles, which are used to close wounds, inside 
patients over the past five financial years.

The incidents, uncovered by a Freedom of Information request, occurred at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital near Brechin.

The statistics showed that five medical instruments were found in patients at NHS Tayside hospitals during the 2007-8 financial year, nine in 2008-9, five in 2009-10 and five again in 2010-11. None were found in 2011-12.

A spokesman for NHS Tayside said: “NHS Tayside can confirm that no larger objects, such as forceps, were left in a patient following surgery and none of the patients became ill, was injured or died as a result of the object being left inside their body.”