The almost unbelievable story of little Kerry Pullinger casts yet further doubt on the capability of the NHS.

The seven-year-old was sent home from the Royal Sussex County Hospital with a broken arm after radiographers X-rayed the wrong one.

It happened just days after a mix-up at another hospital left a mother breastfeeding the wrong baby.

These two mistakes, while serious, are unlikely to have caused lasting damage to the individuals concerned.

But both add to the growing concern over the professionalism of hospital staff.

There is widespread public sympathy for our doctors and nurses who are recognised as being under pressure as never before.

Most do a fantastic job for little in the way of financial reward but we have the right to expect them to know what they are doing.

And that confidence will only be undermined by such very, very basic errors.