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Written question asked by Helen Jones (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 April 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 April 2016 (named day). It was answered by Ben Gummer (Conservative) on Monday, 25 April 2016 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS: Negligence

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the annual costs incurred in clinical negligence legislation due to the failure of the NHS Litigation Authority to (a) properly investigate claims early in the process and (b) offer a realistic settlement at the earliest possible time; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The role of the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHS LA) is to deal efficiently and effectively with clinical negligence cases against the NHS as set out in the framework agreement with the Department.

The NHS LA discharges its functions by:

― paying justified claims promptly and appropriately;

― defending claims without merit;

― undertaking appropriate and proportionate risk management activities with its members with a view to assisting them to minimise their claims and thus improve patient and staff safety; and

― ensuring that the lessons learned from claims and the other activities of the NHS LA are appropriately shared in order to help reduce adverse incidents in the future.

A review of NHS LA by the Department, published in July 2015, concluded that it is a well-led and efficient organisation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
34682
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Costs NHS Negligence NHS Litigation Authority
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk