Health chiefs defend BGH blunders

Ally McGilvray • Published 8 Jun 2010 10:26 0 Comments

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NHS Borders insist incidents like this are rare.

HEALTH chiefs in the Borders have defended their safety record this week after it emerged a pair of forceps up to eight inches long were left inside a patient following an operation.

And the bladder of another patient was accidentally torn during a hysterectomy.

NHS Borders admitted the blunders at Borders General Hospital, near Melrose, in May and June last year.

However, the local health board insisted checks were in place to ensure to prevent a repeat.

In a statement released to the Border Telegraph, NHS Borders Chief Operating Officer Ralph Roberts said: "All swabs and instruments used during surgery are counted out before the operation begins and at the end, or as each pack is opened during the procedure. The operation would not normally be completed until all items had been accounted for.

"On this specific occasion the patient's operation had been finished before checks were complete. As soon as the error was discovered this was corrected and the forceps removed.

"A thorough investigation is undertaken whenever an incident such as this occurs so that we can reinforce our procedures and continually improve the safety of our patients."

And he added: "It should also be emphasised that this is the only such incident in the hospital since 2005 and over 37,500 operations have taken place in that period."

The revelation emerged following a Freedom of Information request to the health board.

Dr Jean Turner, executive director of the Scotland Patients Association, said: "No patient should have to endure another operation or have their life put at risk because the pre and post op checks are not rigorously carried out."

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