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Responses > Retained Foreign Objects Post-Procedure

Freedom of Information request Retained Foreign Objects Post-Procedure

Response published: 8 April 2026
GHNHSFT - Redirect

FOI Request

Dear NHS Trust 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) 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). 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. Many thanks

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 109-2026

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:

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)

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).

Our response:

Zero for all years requested.

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.