Growing number of “never events” recorded in Wales
There are a Growing number of “never events” recorded in Wales. Concerns have been raised over patient safety within a Welsh health board. A a surgeon mistakenly removed the healthy section of a cancer patient’s bowel instead of the tumour in one incident.
There is a growing number of “never events” recorded within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Never events are defined as errors so serious and preventable that there is never a reason for them happening.
There is a rising frequency and recurrence of never events, with limited time between occurrences. This indicates potential systemic control weaknesses and no accountability.
The annual figures show:
- 2022/23 – 5 never events
- 2023/24 – 6 never events
- 2024/25 – 5 never events
- 2025/26 – 10 never events
- 2026/27 – 1 never events so far
Five incidents involved wrong-site procedures; two involved incorrect implants; two involved retained objects, and one involved medicine being administered by the incorrect route.
Healthcare providers are legally bound by a statutory Duty of Candour to inform the patient, provide an honest explanation, and offer a formal apology. Trusts must conduct a Patient Safety Incident Investigation (PSII) using root-cause analysis and do not receive NHS funding for the direct care required to correct the error.
Incidents must be reported to NHS England, triggering scrutiny by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure systemic failures are addressed.
Individual clinicians face fitness-to-practice reviews by regulatory bodies (e.g., GMC or NMC), while patients can pursue legal claims for clinical negligence.
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