A new NHS England report has revealed that trusts across Newcastle, Hull and Northern Lincolnshire reported a combined 20 so-called ‘never events’ during 2025/26, as more than 400 serious patient safety incidents were recorded across England.

The latest annual never events report shows that 403 never events –  incidents of patients suffering harm in a manner which the NHS says should never happen – were reported nationally during the year, compared with 334 in 2024/25, representing a significant increase.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reported eight never events during 2025/26, while Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust each reported six.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Goole and District Hospital, had previously reported five Never events within the first five months of the reporting year.

The figures form part of NHS England's latest annual never events report, which highlights serious patient safety incidents that are considered largely preventable when national safety guidance and procedures are followed correctly.

What are never events?

Never events are serious patient safety incidents that are considered largely preventable if the correct national safety guidance and procedures are followed.

They include incidents such as:

• Surgery being carried out on the wrong part of the body
• The wrong implant or prosthesis being used
• Surgical items being left inside a patient after an operation
• Serious medication errors
• Incorrect blood transfusions
• Misplaced feeding tubes

Because established safety procedures already exist to prevent these incidents, never events are regarded as some of the most serious failures in patient safety.

"Behind every never event is a patient whose life may have been significantly affected"

Chris Gresswell-Green , Director and medical negligence solicitor at Switalskis said:

"Last year, we commented on the number of never events being reported at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust and the importance of learning lessons from those incidents.

"As a solicitor who regularly supports clients across North East Lincolnshire, Hull and the surrounding areas, it is disappointing to see Northern Lincolnshire and Goole, alongside neighbouring trusts in Hull and Newcastle, continuing to feature in the latest NHS England figures.

"Never events are incidents that should not happen when the correct safeguards and procedures are followed. While every case will have its own circumstances, these figures suggest there is still work to do to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of avoidable harm.

"We have to remember that behind every never event is a patient whose life may have been significantly affected. Some people will have required further treatment or surgery, while others may continue to live with the physical or psychological consequences of what happened.

"The latest report recorded more than 400 Never events across England. While this remains a small proportion of overall NHS activity, it is concerning that hundreds of patients continue to be affected by incidents that are considered largely preventable.

"It is vital that healthcare providers continue to learn from these incidents, strengthen safety procedures and ensure every possible step is taken to prevent similar mistakes from happening again."

Events recorded nationally

According to NHS England's latest data, 403 never events were recorded across England during 2025/26.

The most common incidents were:

• Wrong site surgery – 166 incidents
• Retained foreign objects following procedures – 121 incidents
• Wrong implant or prosthesis – 50 incidents

The report also recorded incidents involving medication errors, insulin overdoses, misplaced feeding tubes and incorrect blood transfusions.

Among the organisations reporting the highest numbers of Never events were Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (12), University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (10), Barts Health NHS Trust (9) and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (9).

Why do never events matter?

Although never events are relatively rare, they can have a significant impact on patients and their families.

A patient affected by a never event may face:

• Additional surgery or treatment
• Extended recovery periods
• Ongoing pain or reduced mobility
• Emotional distress and loss of confidence in healthcare providers
• Financial and practical consequences arising from their injuries

Chris added:

"When a never event occurs, it is vital that a thorough investigation takes place to establish what happened and identify what can be learned.

"Patients place a great deal of trust in healthcare professionals. When serious and avoidable mistakes occur, healthcare providers must be open about what has happened and take steps to reduce the risk of similar incidents affecting others in the future.

"The latest figures serve as an important reminder that patient safety must remain a priority across every part of the NHS."

Can I claim compensation for a Never event?

A never event does not automatically mean a medical negligence claim can be made. However, if a patient has suffered avoidable harm because of errors in their medical care, they may be entitled to seek compensation.

An experienced medical negligence solicitor can help investigate what happened, obtain medical records and advise whether a claim may be possible.

How Switalskis can help

Our specialist medical negligence solicitors support people who have experienced avoidable harm as a result of medical treatment.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a never event or another serious patient safety incident, our team can help you understand what happened and advise on the options available to you.

To speak to a member of our team in confidence, get in touch today using the form below.