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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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The MDU (Medical Defence Union) is the main organisation in the UK for defending the doctors and healthcare institutions facing medical negligence claims.
In 2009 a National Audit Office report revealed that the NHS is saddled with a long-term litigation liability bill of around £5.25 billion. The MDU, while agreeing with the principle of medical negligence claims, have expressed alarm both at the size of this bill and the way in which the NHS is set up to manage the ongoing financial implications of compensation claims.
Foremost among the MDU's concerns was the way many claimants are provided with compensation which then goes into funding the cost of private care rather than being fed back into NHS institutions capable of delivering equally effective treatment and rehabilitation.
Dr Frances Szekely, senior medical claims handler at the MDU, comments, "We do not quarrel at all with the principle that a person negligently harmed following medical treatment should be swiftly and adequately compensated. But we think the current system of compensating patients is unfair.
"Much of the money goes to pay a few very large compensation awards to provide long term-care for badly damaged patients on the basis they will receive future care privately rather than through the NHS. This has the effect of setting up one-man private care institutions for these patients, while those who cannot prove negligence receive nothing."
While Dr Tomkins, also with the MDU, adds, "In our experience about two-thirds of total liability for clinical negligence reside in a small number of large claims where much of the payment is channeled into the private sector for the patient's long-term care.
"This means a large amount of money is transferred out of the NHS and into the private sector for the benefit of only a small number of individuals. These payments impact on the costs to the NHS and ultimately patient care."
Dr Tomkins suggested that money should be invested into the NHS, so that it is better able to deal with the ongoing health needs of those people who make medical negligence claims.
"These facilities could then provide a better standard of care for a larger number of individuals, including those who have been negligently injured as well patients with equally pressing needs but whose injury or illness is not the result of negligence," she says.
Adding, "At least £1billion of the NHS total liabilities of £3.9 could be cut from the negligence bill and redirected into NHS care if patients who needed long-term care were guaranteed this from the NHS."
No win, no fee clinical negligence compensation
Just as organizations like the MDU exist to protect the interests of health professionals facing claims of negligent or substandard medical care, the no win, no fee medical negligence claim process exists to ensure all people who have suffered such substandard or negligent care have access to legal redress.
The clinical negligence litigation specialist solicitors on our panel are all drawn from a select group of panel firms which fall under the governance of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Furthermore, those on the panel also have membership of the Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme.
Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of this type of claim some costs will be unavoidable. However, all our claimants can rest assured that we will strive to keep these to a minimum while ensuring that they are always explained in advance.
We also deliver 100 percent compensation in the event of a successful outcome (as the majority or ours are); we never take any cuts.
To find out more about how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve, log into echat, fill out an online claim form or call a legal advisor now, on 0800 10 757 95.
