Doctors leave sponge inside woman's body for 17 months!

• The former office worker never properly recovered from the surgery and her health only deteriorated.

A 47-year-old woman went through a 17-month long ordeal after doctors forgot surgical sponge while performing hysterectomy. Dawn White from Bradford is seeking compensation and apology from the hospital trust for the botched operation.

White was operated upon for removal of her womb and ovaries at Bradford Royal Infirmary in July 2017 after discovering she was suffering from cancer. Doctors had then told her, it would take four months to recover from the operation. However, the former office worker never properly recovered from the surgery and her health only deteriorated."After the operation, everything got worse and worse. I was annoyed because it has taken them nearly 18 months to get sorted and I'm still in hospital now," White said. It was discovered after 18 months that a surgical sponge had been left inside her and she underwent another operation on November 22 this year, to have it removed.

White is now suffering from kidney problems because of the toxins in her body from the sponge. "I don't like being in hospital because I can't really go anywhere because doctors want to keep an eye on me. To begin with I want an apology. I would like compensation for what I have been through for the last 18 months," she added.

While her husband, Andrew, 54, who used to serve in the military, said, "Now the doctors have said her kidneys are affected because of the toxins in her body from the sponge. I wouldn't have wished this on my worst enemy because it's not nice." Adding that his wife wants answers, Andrew said, "They told me they were glad to have found it when they did, which has made me think what would have happened if they hadn't found it."

Spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said, "We are carrying out an investigation into the patient's care and treatment and, in line with the Trust's policy of openness, we will share our findings with her. We have apologised to White for any harm or distress we may have caused and will continue to liaise with her as the investigation continues."

Hopeful that an investigation will be initiated into the botched surgery, the couple are now eager to meet with Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, reported Metro.uk.