Dear NHS Trust
I am requesting this information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Could you please provide data in response to the following questions:
1. How many incidents of a retained foreign object post-procedure were logged by your Trust in the past three years? (2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25)
NB Please interpret ‘retained foreign object post-procedure’ as objects accidentally left inside patients following surgical procedures – e.g. guide wires, mouth props, surgical instruments, needles, vaginal swabs, throat packs, clips etc.
1a) Please break down this information by year (as outlined above).
1b) If possible, please break down this information by retained object (including but not limited to the examples listed above).
2. How many claims have been made against the Trust in relation to retained foreign objects post-procedure in the past three years? (2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25)
2a) Please break down this information by year (as outlined above).
3. What is the total sum paid out in claims made against the Trust in relation to retained foreign objects post-procedure in the past three years? (2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25)
3a) Please break down this information by year (as outlined above).
3b) If possible, please provide the highest fee paid out in claims made against the Trust in relation to retained foreign objects post-procedure for each of the years outlined above.

