Freedom of Information data obtained from NHS England shows that 505 people were admitted to hospital in 2025 with a foreign object in the rectum recorded as the primary diagnosis.
Based on average procedure costs, these admissions have cost the NHS an estimated £429,250.
Key Findings
From 2021 to 2025, NHS England recorded 3,732 Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where “foreign object in rectum” was listed as the primary diagnosis.
Using an estimated average treatment cost of £850 per case, the total cost to the NHS over this five-year period is approximately: £3,172,200
Cost estimates were calculated using previously published research from the Royal College of Surgeons, which places the average cost of removing a rectal foreign body at approximately £850 per procedure.
This average cost was applied to the annual totals identified in the FOI data to produce yearly and cumulative cost estimates.
These figures should be considered estimates, not exact NHS accounting totals.
FOI data shows a significant gender imbalance:
The data reflects hospital admissions only and does not capture cases managed outside inpatient settings.
Source: Freedom of Information request submitted to NHS England
Measure used: Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs)
Diagnosis category: “Foreign object in rectum” (primary diagnosis)
Time period: 2021–2025 (2025 data covers Jan 1–Aug 31 and is provisional)
