Three patient harm incidents at Wanganui Hospital

Of three incidents that caused harm at Wanganui Hospital in past year, one was result of surgey to the wrong part of the patient's body.

The information is revealed in the Health Quality & Safety Commission's Serious and Sentinel Event report, which outlines incidents where harm is caused to patients in New Zealand.

The report shows Wanganui Hospital having three incidents that caused harm to patients in the 2011-2012 year - two of them falls which are the leading causes of harm in New Zealand hospitals and the third, surgery performed on the wrong part of a patient's body.

"While three events are three too many, we are pleased that this is a significant improvement on the nine reported events in the 2010 - 2011 year," Whanganui District Health Board chief executive Julie Patterson says.

"Wanganui Hospital has a robust process in place to ensure every incident of harm is thoroughly investigated, that the findings of investigations are shared with the patient and/or family and that any recommendations to prevent that harm happening again are implemented," Mrs Patterson said.