Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 100-2026
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)
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.
Our response:
The Trust does not provide the service mentioned in your request. Please re-direct your request to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at ghn-tr.foi@nhs.net.
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.