Bungling medics left a sponge inside a patient’s body after surgery when they went off on their tea break
NHS report rules that staff swap-overs mid-surgery should be "avoided"
HOSPITAL staff left a sponge inside a patient's body after surgery - because they went off for their DINNER BREAK.
The botched op left the unnamed patient in "worsening pain" and was only resolved when the sponge was removed during a second surgery.
The medical blunder, which took place during keyhole surgery, has been disclosed in a report by NHS Lanarkshire.
It is not clear when the surgery took place - but the mistake has been blamed on a breakdown in communication when workers were swapped around for "tea relief".
According to documents obtained through Freedom of Information, NHS officials have come up with several recommendations following the incident - including warnings that staff changeovers during surgery should be avoided.
The report, which formed part of a formal investigation of the incident, said: "A different plan and/or delivery would, on the balance of probability, have been expected to result in a more favourable outcome."
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The sponge left in the patient is called an endoractor and is used during a keyhole surgery to make more space for surgeons.
The review said: "An endoractor was used during the procedure to facilitate dissection.
"The patient initially made a reasonable recovery post op however, there was a slight elevation in inflammatory markers towards the end of the week and the patient complained of worsening pain and a repeat CT scan identified a foreign body, which was confirmed by a surgeon as being the endoractor."
It also ruled staff training on new equipment was essential and that "distraction should be minimised".
NHS Lanarkshire runs Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, Wishaw General Hospital and Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Scotland.
The report doesn't reveal which of the three sites the blunder took place at.
Dr Lesley Anne Smith, an associate director at NHS Lanarkshire, said: "This type of incident is incredibly rare. However, should one occur, we carry out a thorough investigation with the staff involved to ensure that lessons are learned and measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents happening in the future.
"The findings of the investigation were made available to the patient."
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