A RECENT investigation has revealed that since 2019, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has had to pay out a total of £6,684,145 to patients who have lodged claims following a surgery error.

Figures obtained by Medical Negligence Assist also showed from 2019 to 2024, 90 claims regarding surgical errors were lodged against Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 70 of which were settled.

Medical negligence solicitor for JF Law, Gareth Lloyd, said: “The chances of a patient suffering a surgical error are remote, yet every operation carries with it a number of risks, and if something goes wrong, there can be lifelong consequences.”

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides acute hospital services from two large district general hospitals, Cheltenham General Hospital (CGH) and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH).

Surgical errors are mistakes or accidents that occur during procedures and they are classed as ‘never events’ as they are errors that should not have happened in surgery.

These errors can have significant physical, emotional and financial consequences for patients as they may require additional treatment and suffer even more pain.

A person affected by a surgery error can often make a surgical negligence claim against the NHS, where NHS Resolution will pay for their compensation.

This is a government scheme paid for by NHS Trusts that acts as an insurance policy and pays for NHS negligence claims.

In 2019/2020, 21 claims were made against the trust, the second-highest number of claims over the past five years. A year later, this number decreased to 15 claims.

The service has experienced a drop in claims over the past year compared to 2022/23, with a total of 15.

The news comes following another investigation which indicated the Trust paid over £30 million in children’s negligence claims since 2019.