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Dec 9, 2025
Swab 'half the size of an arm' left inside new mum for six weeks
Otago Daily Times Online News
A woman who became increasingly ill in the weeks after her baby was born was prescribed pain relief and antibiotics for what healthcare professionals thought were standard post-delivery complications.
It wasn't until the woman saw her GP for a scheduled appointment six weeks later that a pad the size of "half an arm" was found left inside the woman, a report said.
The obstetrics registrar who had helped with the delivery was repairing an incision she had given the woman and was distracted by an emergency bell from another patient.
She inserted swabs in the woman she was treating and attended the other call.
Six weeks later, it was found by the GP, who removed what smelled "like a dead body".
Findings released today by the Health and Disability Commissioner revealed how the woman cried and was "scared to death" that it could lead to serious illness or infection - or worse, death - because of the negligence.
Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall said the maternity care provided by Health NZ Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley in 2021 had been a distressing experience for the woman and her family.
She found Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora failed to provide services to the woman with reasonable care and skill. It also failed to provide services which minimised potential harm, leading to two breaches of the woman's rights under the health consumers' code.
Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall said the maternity care provided by Health NZ Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley in 2021 had been a distressing experience for the woman and her family.
She found Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora failed to provide services to the woman with reasonable care and skill. It also failed to provide services which minimised potential harm, leading to two breaches of the woman's rights under the health consumers' code.
Wall did however commend the health provider's prompt decision to investigate the cause, and take responsibility for the errors identified, in a s
