A SWAB being left inside a patient and wrong site surgery on a patient’s colon were among 70 incidents at south Essex hospitals that resulted in harm to patients during just two months.

All the incidents occurred between July and August of this year at Basildon, Southend and Mid Essex - known as Broomfield - hospitals.

The figures represent an increase on the previous two months when a total of 66 incidents were reported at the three hospitals.

However, the number regarded as “never” events - mistakes so called because they should never happen – reduced from seven to two.

These never events included a swab being left inside a patient at the Basildon Hospital and “wrong site” surgery on a patient’s colon at Mid Essex Hospital.

Among the 70 serious incidents, which resulted in patient injury, eight suffered serious falls at the two hospitals, including one who sustained a fatal head injury.

Basildon Hospital had three cases of missed diagnosis, including one for prostate cancer, and a delay in treatment which meant a patient had to be admitted to critical care.

Errors at the Mid Essex Hospital included five incidents where falls resulted in fractures to patients’ femurs and four incidents of “sub optimal care for a deteriorating patient”.

Southend Hospital had the least number of serious incidents and had reported four never events in July.

Details of all the incidents are published in papers that were discussed at health committee meeting held on Friday in Southend.

Carol Anderson, chief nurse of the Joint Commissioning Team, told the committee that a public health specialist had presented a “detailed report” to a patient safety meeting following a review of the never events from May and June.

NHS bosses have also won a bid for funding to put in a “programme for learning” that will commence in November.

Carol Anderson added: “I am ever hopeful that we will see a reduction in never events and we do have a zero-tolerance approach.”

Professor Mike Bewick, chair of the committee, urged caution when looking at the figures. He added: “We also need to remember that transparency has increased across the board and that leads to an increase in reporting.”