NHS ‘never events’: when mistakes that should never happen do
Recent figures have revealed that 403 serious patient safety incidents, known as never events, occurred across the NHS in England between April 2024 and March 2025. These incidents included surgery being carried out on the wrong part of the body, foreign objects being left inside patients following procedures and, in one case, the removal of an organ or body part that should have been preserved.
The figures have understandably raised concerns about patient safety and whether enough is being done to prevent avoidable harm.
What is a never event?
A never event is a serious patient safety incident that is considered wholly preventable because national guidance and safety procedures already exist to stop it from happening.
These incidents occur where robust safeguards should have prevented the error, making them among the most serious categories of avoidable harm in healthcare.
Because never events are considered preventable, every occurrence is investigated to understand what went wrong and how similar mistakes can be avoided in future.
How common are never events?
Although the latest figures may sound alarming, never events remain relatively rare when viewed against the vast number of treatments carried out by the NHS each year.
However, patient safety remains a significant concern across the healthcare system. NHS England has estimated that around 11,000 avoidable deaths occur each year as a result of patient safety concerns, alongside many more incidents causing serious harm.
The impact is also significant from a financial perspective. NHS Resolution has estimated that the annual cost associated with clinical negligence harm across the NHS exceeds £4.5 billion, highlighting the substantial consequences that avoidable errors can have for both patients and the healthcare system.
While never events represent only a small proportion of patient safety incidents, they are among the most serious because they are considered wholly preventable where the correct safety procedures are followed.
Although these incidents are relatively rare, that offers little comfort to the patients and families affected by them. Because never events should not happen at all, every occurrence is treated seriously and is subject to detailed investigation to identify what went wrong and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
What do the latest figures show?
According to NHS England data, there were 403 reported never events during the last reporting year. The incidents included:
- 166 cases involving wrong-site surgery
- 121 cases where foreign objects were left inside patients following procedures
- 50 incidents involving the wrong implant or prosthesis
- 17 cases where patients received medication by the wrong route
- 14 insulin overdose incidents
- 9 cases involving the wrong blood type being administered
The figures also included cases where patients underwent procedures intended for another patient and one case where an organ or body part was removed when the intention had been to preserve it.
While never events remain relatively rare when compared with the millions of treatments delivered by the NHS each year, each incident represents a patient who may have suffered avoidable physical and emotional harm.
The impact on patients and families
The consequences of a never event can be significant.
In some cases, patients may require further surgery, additional treatment or extended hospital stays. Others may experience ongoing physical complications, psychological distress or a loss of trust in healthcare providers.
Families can also be affected, particularly where the incident results in long-term health problems, financial difficulties or the need for ongoing care and support.
When could a medical negligence claim arise?
Not every adverse medical outcome will amount to negligence. However, where a patient has suffered harm because healthcare professionals failed to meet the standard of care expected of them, a medical negligence claim may be possible.
Cases involving never events often raise important questions about:
- Whether appropriate safety procedures were followed
- Whether communication failures contributed to the incident
- Whether adequate checks were carried out before treatment
- Whether the harm suffered could and should have been prevented
A successful claim can help secure compensation for pain and suffering, lost earnings, treatment costs and future care needs where appropriate.
Seeking legal advice after a serious medical error
Experiencing a serious medical mistake can be distressing and overwhelming. Obtaining specialist legal advice can help patients and families understand what happened, whether there may be grounds for a claim and what options are available to them.
At Attwaters Solicitors, our specialist Medical Negligence team advises clients on a wide range of complex claims arising from avoidable medical errors. The team supports individuals and families affected by surgical errors, hospital errors, delayed diagnosis, GP negligence and serious injury cases, combining legal expertise with a compassionate approach to help clients secure the answers and support they need.
You can also read our Medical Negligence case studies to learn more about how we have helped clients affected by avoidable medical errors and the outcomes achieved on their behalf.
Contact us
If you believe you or a loved one has been affected by a serious medical error, our Medical Negligence team can help you understand your legal position and discuss your circumstances in confidence.
To speak with a member of the team, please contact Attwaters Solicitors today.
