267 patients have items left inside them after surgery in six-year period

Figures released by the HSE have highlighted the number of items that have gone missing or been left inside patients during surgery.

The information - obtained by Irish Examiner reporter

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The findings involve 267 patients from 2005 to 2011.

Officials say this is a small number in comparison to the number of surgeries carried out, accounting for just 0.005% of all surgeries over the period.

It is not clear whether all affected patients are told when something has gone wrong.