HOSPITAL bosses have apologised after surgeons left a piece of medical equipment inside a patient during a hip operation.

David Bould was paid £4,000 in an out-of-court settlement with University Hospital of Hartlepool, in Hartlepool, after the mistake came to light.

The 54-year-old Darlington man was admitted to the hospital in April last year after being referred for a hip resurfacing operation by his GP.

The procedure was designed to reduce pain in Mr Bould’s hip caused by wear and tear, and was initially hailed as a success.

But an x-ray the following day found that a guide pin had been left in the patient’s hip and a second operation was needed to remove the device.

“I was anxious about having my operation in the first place and it was a relief to discover it had been successful,” said Mr Bould, a duty manager for Darlington Borough Council.

“But to be told that they had made a mistake and would have to operate again was a huge shock.”

Mr Bould contacted the Patient Advisory and Liaison Service (Pals) once he was discharged from hospital.

He said he decided to take the hospital to court in the hope that his action would help to prevent the incident from happening to other patients in the future.

When the mistake came to light, surgeons had to re-enter the wound from the first procedure, causing Mr Bould severe pain.

He was also kept in hospital for longer than planned.

The hospital later admitted liability for the incident, and the claim was settled for £4,000.

“I hope that, as a result of my actions, the hospital has been able to review its procedures,” said Mr Bould.

A spokesman for the hospital said that following the incident, routine checks will be made to make sure that guide pins are counted after all operations.

The medical director for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Peter Gill, said: “We learn from incidents and we now have systems in place to ensure, as far as humanly possible, this will not happen again.

“We’re pleased for Mr Bould that this has been settled.”