Never Events – The Latest Figures and Why They Matter
Posted on in Medical Negligence
A “Never Event” is a serious, preventable patient-safety incident that should not occur if proper safety systems and precautions are in place.
The definition used by NHS England describes them as “adverse events that are serious, largely preventable, and of concern to both the public and health care providers for the purpose of public accountability”.
Because of their nature, Never Events act as significant “red flags” - signalling that the safety barriers, procedures or oversight within an organisation may not be robust.
Types of Never Events
The NHS tracks a defined list of categories. These include:
- Wrong-site surgery (for example operating on the incorrect limb or side)
- Retained foreign object following a procedure (e.g., surgical sponge left behind)
- Wrong implant or prosthesis inserted
- Medication errors - e.g., wrong route of administration
- Misidentification of patients, incorrect labelling or transfusion errors
- And other serious safety failures such as severe falls, entrapment, or equipment-related issues.
Recent data – April 2025 to July 2025
The most recent provisional data published by NHS England covers April to July 2025. According to that publication:
- A total of 139 incidents met the definition of Never Events in that period.
- The monthly breakdown was: April (31), May (35), June (38), July (35).
- The most common categories reported were: wrong-site surgery, retained foreign objects, wrong implants/prostheses.
These incidents span across many different hospital trusts, underscoring that no institution is entirely unaffected. Do please note that these figures are provisional: investigations may later revise the numbers up or down.
Why these figures matter
Although the overall number of Never Events may appear modest compared to the scale of NHS activity, each one represents a major systemic breakdown. Even a single incident can cast doubt on the reliability of a hospital’s safety procedures. These events often result in serious harm, disability or even death, and they demonstrate that multiple layers of protection, both human and system based, have failed and lessons need to be learned from these failures.
What causes Never Events?
These incidents can rarely be chalked up to a lone “mistake”. More often, they reflect a combination of:
- Human error - slip, lapse or misjudgement.
- System error - inadequate procedures, poor communication, staffing issues or training shortfalls.
- Organisational factors - poor safety culture, weak governance, insufficient oversight, failure to learn from prior incidents.
How Tozers can help
If you or a loved one has been affected by a serious adverse outcome, the occurrence of a Never Event may significantly affect your case.
Never Events are not just statistics, they are stark indicators of failure in patient care and safety systems. It is essential that we recognise their significance for individuals and families affected.
If you’d like to discuss a potential claim relating to a serious adverse healthcare event, our specialist Medical Negligence team is ready to help.