By Gabriel Princewill
A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request has brought to light a series of alarming surgical errors at South Essex hospitals, managed by the Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust.
Among the reported incidents, one particularly egregious case involved a cancer patient undergoing surgery on the wrong part of the body—a procedure known as a lumpectomy, typically performed to remove potentially cancerous cells.
Lumpectomies, crucial in treating breast cancer, necessitate precision and accuracy.
However, in this instance, the surgery was conducted at “the wrong site,” raising significant concerns regarding patient safety and the efficacy of medical procedures. Such preventable errors, classified as “never events,” underscore the gravity of lapses in surgical protocols.
The findings brought about by an FOI request from Blackwater law Solicitors, also revealed three separate incidents where patients had the wrong skin lesion removed.
Such catastrophic errors not only prolong the exposure to potentially cancerous lesions but also exacerbate risks associated with delayed treatment.
Furthermore, instances of misplaced medical devices, such as a naso/gastric tube, and erroneous administration of anesthesia prior to surgery, further compound the apprehensions surrounding patient care standards within the trust.
Jason Brady, partner and head of Blackwater Law, expressed deep concern over the revealed incidents, emphasizing the profound impact on affected individuals and their families. Each case represents not just a medical error, but a personal tragedy with lasting repercussions.
Blackwater Law Solicitors which has been conducting FOI enquiries to trusts on a variety of issues for the past 5 years told The Eye Of Media.Com: Blackwater Law conduct FOI enquiries to trusts on a variety of issues, and are carried out in order to access information from NHS trusts which otherwise would not be publicly available, such as the Never Event details.
”At Blackwater Law we see the impact that these incidents have, and conducting FOI requests is a great way to raise awareness of these issues.
In 2023, a Freedom Of Information Request (FOI) revealed that Kettering General Hospital had paid out almost £5 million in compensation cases after medical errors left several patients blind.
The hospital was one of the largest payers of compensation for such negligence out of the whole NHS over the past five years.
In response to the revelations, Diane Sarkar, chief nursing and quality officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, reaffirmed the trust’s commitment to delivering high-quality, safe care.
Sarkar emphasized the importance of a transparent reporting system for incidents, facilitating thorough investigations to glean crucial lessons for improving patient safety protocols.
With patient safety at the forefront, there is an urgent need for comprehensive reviews and reforms to ensure that such lapses are not repeated, safeguarding the well-being of all individuals seeking medical care in South Essex.