TV remotes and Lego among ‘foreign objects’ hospitals removed from bottoms

In October 2026, hospitals across England reported removing unusual items from patients' rectums after more than 100 Freedom of Information requests were submitted by the Press Association. Medical staff at hospitals in Lewisham and Greenwich, south London, had to remove Lego bricks in balloons, beer bottles, a shampoo bottle, a toothbrush, and even a door handle. In Berkshire, items included a Nerf bullet, boiled egg, Coke can, potato, deodorant bottle, and toilet brush handle. Edible objects like cucumbers, courgettes, grapes, and an apple were also found. Other non-edible objects such as TV remotes, children’s toys, a cocktail stirrer, a bank card, metal screws, razor blades, and even a snow globe were among the items extracted. In 2022 alone, more than 1,500 people attended A&E for "foreign bodies in rectum." Chris Nordstrom, an A&E consultant at Northwick Park Hospital in north-west London, stated that such incidents are uncommon but emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention promptly to avoid further injury.