Bold and swift steps needed to tackle clinical negligence system

The Health and Social Care Committee has published a report (embargoed until 28 April) urging radical reforms to the negligence compensation system that costs NHS billions each year.

Commenting, Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director at Medical Protection, said:

“The Health and Social Care Committee is right to highlight the need for a radical overhaul of the clinical negligence system – we need reforms to make legal costs more proportionate, and make things more fair and transparent which will in turn reduce soaring costs.

“In our evidence to this inquiry, we raised concern that the system is also neither equitable nor appropriate for families and children who suffer child-birth injuries as only those who are able to prove fault against a healthcare professional receive compensation and support. The process of proving fault is highly stressful and lengthy for all involved, and reinforces a blame culture which acts as a barrier to learning.

“The Government committed to publishing a proper strategy on clinical negligence in 2018 and while there have been more pressing priorities, we cannot not lose sight of this. We need commitment to some bold and swift steps if we are going to get close to addressing this issue.”

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About Medical Protection

Medical Protection is a trading name of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”). MPS is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.

MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.