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Clinical negligence claims against NHS 'set to rise' |
The number of people who seek advice from injury lawyers about taking clinical negligence claims against the NHS is set to increase, it has been said.
Stephen Walker, the chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority, told MPs that more cases are being brought against the health service every year, the Health Service Journal reported.
He stated that so far this year, there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of claims received by the organisation's clinical negligence team on the total handled in 2009-10.
Mr Walker said: "It's getting worse this year … massively so."
"We're looking at perhaps between 25 and 30 per cent increase this year in the year to date," he predicted.
Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, who heads the medical injury team at KCJ, adds: "This rise is not surprising given the recently publicised appalling care of the elderly. We have already noticed a significant increase in enquiries regarding the treatment of elderly relatives. Litigation is not the answer. Kindness in care and hands-on nursing is key to better outcomes and fewer claims."
His comments come after 15-year-old Sophie Taylor was given £5.3 million in a clinical negligence case last month after she was left brain damaged as a result of being starved of oxygen at birth.
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