11-07-2025
Hospitals investigating ‘never event' in eye department
A safety investigation has been commissioned by a major hospitals trust that serves Powys after an incident in its eye department.
The board of The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals Trust was told that the incident happened in May this year and is classified as a 'never event.'
Never events are defined as serious incidents that are wholly preventable.
A SaTH spokesperson said patient confidentiality considerations mean no further details will be released.
The incident was reported to Thursday's trust board meeting under 'matters of concerns, gaps in assurance or key risks to escalate to the board'.
Information released in the board papers said the issue was raised at a meeting of the trust's Quality & Safety Assurance Committee (QSAC) Key Issues Report on May 27.
The report read: 'There was a never event in ophthalmology this month: a patient safety incident investigation has been commissioned.'
SaTH's ophthalmology department works across the county, with outpatient departments in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital, Telford.
There are also outreach clinics in Whitchurch and Welshpool. Complex eye surgery is performed at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and the trust has its own dedicated Cataract Suite for routine Cataract Surgery.
