Baby deaths, delays in cancer diagnosis and items left inside bodies after surgery were among the "adverse events" recorded at Auckland hospitals in the past year.
Across New Zealand, 631 adverse events – unintended or unexpected events that result in a patient being seriously harmed – were recorded by district health boards in the 12 months to June this year.
That was up from 542 the previous year, according to the Health Quality and Safety Commission's annual report.
According to Stuff.co, Auckland reported 96 adverse events, including 34 falls causing serious harm and 10 serious pressure injuries.
Included in the report was a delay in recognising seizures in a baby, resulting in a brain injury.
Fourteen people suffered deteriorated vision due to delayed treatment.
Auckland District Health Board had the highest number of serious adverse events, with 96.
A number of patients experienced a delay in the detection, diagnosis or treatment of cancer; two put down to delays in radiology imaging and reporting.
A delay in recognising and treating high blood sugar levels in a patient with multiple illnesses contributed to their deterioration and death.
In another case, medication was given to a patient with a "known risk", landing them in the intensive care unit, while another died as a result of complications from medication.
At least four events were to do with foreign bodies, swabs or vaginal packs left in patients after surgery.
[Source: stuff.co]
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