NHS negligence claims: {pound}2.7bn cost prompts renewed calls for system reform

Payments for clinical negligence in the NHS in England rose by 9.5% in 2022-23 to almost £2.7bn, according to the latest report from NHS Resolution, the body that handles claims.1The increase, driven by a rise in the number of high value claims, has prompted renewed calls for reform of clinical negligence litigation.The figure reflects the high cost of maternity claims, with lifelong support needed for babies with devastating birth injuries. Recent reports have highlighted avoidable deaths and injuries at several NHS trusts.Although obstetric cases accounted for only 13% of clinical claims reported in 2022-23, they accounted for 64% of claims by value, up from 62% the previous year, when they made up 12% of claims. The next highest categories of claim by volume—emergency medicine, orthopaedic surgery, and general surgery—all attracted much lower levels of payments.Michael Devlin, head of professional standards and liaison for the Medical Defence Union (MDU), said that…
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