Officials at the RUH have apologised and begun an investigation after two new mothers had medical swabs left inside them after giving birth at the Bath hospital.
The two mothers both gave birth at the Royal United Hospital in Bath in February, but it was found that swabs had been left inside both following the birth of their children.
Although neither women were harmed by the mistake, the trust’s chief nurse Hilary Walker told the BBC that it was completely unacceptable.
The incidents were both classed by the hospital as ‘never events’, which the government rule would only happen if safety procedures had not been met.
Hilary Walker added: “We are extremely disappointed and have apologised to the women concerned.
“We have commissioned an independent investigation to find out why these incidents happened and what needs to be done to prevent them happening again.”
More than 9000 babies are delivered each year by the maternity service across Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire, which is run by Swindon’s Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust will be taking over the responsibility of the maternity services at the RUH in June.
