São Francisco Xavier Hospital left vaginal dressings (compresses) inside two women after childbirth, the Health Regulatory Entity (Entidade Reguladora da Saúde or ERS) investigation found, with complaints dating from February and May 2025 and conclusions published on March 3. In one case a patient discovered the dressing six days after discharge; the ERS emphasised the need to protect patients' rights and proper care. Patients and those using maternity services should note the investigation and any follow-up measures announced by the hospital or regulator.
Hospital left vaginal dressings after two births
Tuesday, 3 March 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The ERS is the Health Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora da Saúde), an independent regulator that oversees quality, access and compliance for public and private health providers in Portugal. Its warnings matter because they can trigger inspections or corrective measures, inform patients about service shortfalls and influence how the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) and private hospitals manage waiting lists for diagnostic tests.
São Francisco Xavier Hospital (Saint Francis Xavier Hospital) is a public hospital in Lisbon that provides maternity and other clinical services. After a complaint made on February 24, 2025, the Health Regulatory Entity (Entidade Reguladora da Saúde or ERS) opened an administrative process over two cases where vaginal compresses were left inside patients, so anyone treated there should keep medical records and can contact ERS to report concerns.
Sources (4)
- Forgotten compresses after childbirth in two women at São Francisco Xavier HospitalDinheiro Vivo · 3:52pm, 3 Mar 2026
- Hospital leaves forgotten vaginal compresses after childbirth of two womenCorreio da Manhã · 3:46pm, 3 Mar 2026
- Hospital leaves forgotten dressings in women after childbirthObservador · 5:07pm, 3 Mar 2026
- Lisbon hospital left forgotten vaginal pads after the childbirth of two womenCNN Portugal · 3:58pm, 3 Mar 2026
