10.02.15
NHS sets aside £26bn to cover negligence claims
Almost a quarter of the health service’s annual budget has been set aside to cover legal claims for medical negligence against the NHS, it has been claimed.
The NHS Litigation Authority, which provides indemnity cover to the NHS against legal action, has set aside £26.1bn to cover existing liabilities, it has been reported – almost one-quarter of the £113bn annual health budget.
Recent figures from the Litigation Authority revealed that 11,945 lawsuits were filed against the British healthcare service over 2013-2014, compared with 6,562 in 2009-10. Additionally, more than £1.3bn was paid out to cover medical negligence claims last year alone.
The latest news comes ahead of DH plans to fine hospitals which are dishonest about medical mistakes.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce tomorrow financial sanctions for hospitals that fail to be honest about clinical mistakes, in a sign of growing concern about compensation costs.
The new regulations, which will come into effect from April, mean that hospitals who lose negligence claims, and are found to have covered up mistakes, will be forced to pay an extra £10,000.
Additionally, there are plans to introduce jail sentences of up to two years for those who “consent or connive” to provide false information.
Hunt said: “Being open and learning from mistakes is crucial in improving patient care. The NHS is a world class health service, but when mistakes happen it is vital we face them head on and learn so they are never repeated.”
The regulations will be introduced as an inquiry into the treatment of NHS whistleblowers, led by Sir Robert Francis QC, reports.
Sir Francis, the barrister who led two inquiries into the Mid-Staffs scandal, is expected to call for new safeguards to protect those who attempt to blow the whistle on risks to patients.
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]