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| Wrong body part op claims 'rise' | Wrong body part op claims 'rise' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Operations in which patients had the wrong body parts operated on have risen by a half in the last three years, claim figures show. | Operations in which patients had the wrong body parts operated on have risen by a half in the last three years, claim figures show. |
| Last year, 40 patients in England had claims settled by the NHS Litigation Authority - up from 27 in 2003-4. The cost of settling the claims topped £1m. Among the mistakes were cases of the wrong leg and hips being operated on. | |
| Campaigners said the errors were "unforgivable" and should never happen. | Campaigners said the errors were "unforgivable" and should never happen. |
| This mistakes have devastating impact on patients Peter Walsh, of Action Against Medical Accidents | This mistakes have devastating impact on patients Peter Walsh, of Action Against Medical Accidents |
| The data was released by the NHS Litigation Authority after a Freedom of Information request. | The data was released by the NHS Litigation Authority after a Freedom of Information request. |
| There were 27 claims settled for what is known as "wrong site surgery" in 2003-4, rising to 35 the following financial year and 40 in 2005-6. | There were 27 claims settled for what is known as "wrong site surgery" in 2003-4, rising to 35 the following financial year and 40 in 2005-6. |
| Over the period, the cost of settling those claims, including damages and costs, increased from £447,694 in 2003-4 to £663,145 the following year and £1,098,975 last year. | Over the period, the cost of settling those claims, including damages and costs, increased from £447,694 in 2003-4 to £663,145 the following year and £1,098,975 last year. |
| A third of claims involved surgery on the wrong tooth, but wrong hips, knees and legs were also operated on. | A third of claims involved surgery on the wrong tooth, but wrong hips, knees and legs were also operated on. |
| Peter Walsh, chief executive of Action Against Medical Accidents, said: "These are accidents that should not be happening. | Peter Walsh, chief executive of Action Against Medical Accidents, said: "These are accidents that should not be happening. |
| "This is not rocket science. It is all about having the correct procedures in place, it is not like we are talking about risk surgery. | "This is not rocket science. It is all about having the correct procedures in place, it is not like we are talking about risk surgery. |
| "This mistakes have devastating impact on patients and is unforgivable." | "This mistakes have devastating impact on patients and is unforgivable." |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Millions of surgical procedures are carried out safely and correctly every day in the NHS and only a tiny number of cases are ever performed incorrectly. | A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Millions of surgical procedures are carried out safely and correctly every day in the NHS and only a tiny number of cases are ever performed incorrectly. |
| "But the government is very clear, NHS patients who are injured as a result of clinical negligence should receive correct and full compensation." | "But the government is very clear, NHS patients who are injured as a result of clinical negligence should receive correct and full compensation." |
| And she added last year guidance was issued to doctors to ensure consistent methods were used to mark which body parts were due to be operated on. | And she added last year guidance was issued to doctors to ensure consistent methods were used to mark which body parts were due to be operated on. |