Medical Negligence - The Latest Figures and Explaining the Schemes

Medical Negligence is professional negligence by acttheir abolition in April 1996 with the NHSLA itself
or omission by a health care provider e.g Doctor,acting as defendant.
Nurse etc.. in which care provided deviates from- The Liabilities of Third Parties Scheme. Covers
accepted standards of practice in the medicalnon-clinical "third-party" liabilities.
community and causes injury to the patient.- The Property Expenses Scheme. Covers "first
A Special Health Authority ( NHS LitigationParty" losses by NHS bodies.
Authority) is responsible for handling both clinicalIn 2007/08, the NHSLA made payments totaling
and non-clinical negligence cases on the behalf of£661.04 million for all 5 schemes. They
the NHS in England.received 5,470 claims (including potential claims)
The NHSLA has a number of different schemesunder its clinical negligence schemes and 3,380
to handle Medical Negligence Claims.claims (including potential claims) in respect of its
- The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trustnon-clinical negligence schemes.
(CNST). Is a voluntary risk-polling scheme forCNST claims are now settle in an average of 1.50
clinical negligence claims arising out of incidentsyears. This is counting the date of notification to
occurring after 1st April 1995.the date when compensation is agreed or the
- The Existing Liabilities Scheme. This covers clinicalclaim is abandoned.
negligence claims arising out of incidents whichFrom all 5 schemes between the 01/04/1997 and
occurred before 1st April 1995.31/03/2008 41% cases are abandoned by the
- The Ex-RHAs. Covers any clinical liabilitiesclaimant, 42% is settled out of court, 4% is
incurred by the Regional Health Authorities beforesettled in court and 13% are outstanding.