Swabs left inside the body after surgery
If you've discovered that surgical swabs were left inside your body after an operation, you're likely feeling shocked, angry, and deeply concerned about your health. At The Medical Law Partnership, we understand how traumatic this experience can be. Retained surgical items are classed as "never events" in healthcare, meaning they should never happen if proper procedures are followed. We're here to help you secure the compensation you deserve for this clear breach of medical care standards, and to support you through the process of holding those responsible to account.
How common is harm as a result of having swabs left inside the body after surgery?
While exact numbers are difficult to determine, NHS data suggests that several hundred cases of retained surgical items occur in UK hospitals each year. Swabs are the most commonly left items, followed by instruments and needles. These incidents are considered completely preventable, as hospitals have strict counting procedures designed to prevent them. When swabs are left inside patients, it’s almost always due to multiple failures in the operating team’s protocols. We’ve helped many clients in your situation, and we know how devastating the physical and psychological consequences can be.
The typical errors we see in retained swab cases include operating staff failing to perform proper swab counts before and after surgery, not following hospital counting protocols correctly, becoming distracted during counts, or ignoring discrepancies in the counts. Other failures include not using radio-opaque swabs that would show up on x-rays, failing to order post-operative scans when counts are unclear, and not listening to patients when they report persistent symptoms. In many cases we’ve handled, multiple staff members made errors that together led to the swab being left inside, showing a systemic failure in care standards.
Beginning your claim with us is simple and stress-free. When you first contact us, we’ll listen carefully to understand your experience and how the retained swab has affected your health and life. Our specialist solicitors will obtain your medical records and work with surgical experts to build a strong case proving negligence. We’ll handle all communications with the hospital or their insurers, taking that burden off your shoulders. Importantly, we work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you can pursue justice without worrying about legal costs. From the moment you instruct us, we’ll guide you through every step with compassion and expertise.
Your compensation will reflect both the physical and emotional impact of this negligence. This may include damages for the pain and suffering caused by the retained swab and its removal, compensation for any additional surgeries or treatments you’ve needed, reimbursement for lost earnings if you’ve been unable to work, and costs for any ongoing care requirements. For severe cases where the swab caused permanent damage, such as organ injury or chronic infection, compensation amounts increase significantly to account for lifelong consequences. We’ll also ensure your claim reflects the psychological trauma of knowing a foreign object was left inside you, and any loss of trust in medical professionals.
Most retained swab cases take between 2 to 4 years to resolve, as hospitals often admit liability relatively quickly for these clear errors. However, if your case involves complex injuries or disputed medical evidence, it may take longer, particularly if court proceedings become necessary. The timeline depends on factors like how quickly the hospital responds, whether they dispute any aspects of your claim, and the extent of your injuries. While we’ll always work efficiently to resolve your claim, we’ll never rush to settle for less than you deserve, no matter how long it takes to achieve the right outcome.
Contact The Medical Law Partnership today.
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