SURGEONS have left a swab inside a hospital patient for the second time in six months.

The blunder at Salisbury District Hospital has prompted a serious incident investigation.

Hospital bosses would not say why such a serious mistake was allowed to happen twice in such a short space of time, but did issue the following statement:

"The Trust can confirm that it has reported a never event involving a retained swab which took place in February 2015.

"The issue was identified promptly and the patient and family kept fully informed.

"The Trust has apologised and is now looking into this matter as part of its normal procedures."

Never events are described by the NHS as “serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur if the available preventative measures have been implemented.”

They include incidents such as operating on the wrong body part, and leaving implements inside a patient following surgery.