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It is estimated that claims for clinical negligence
account for 1% of the NHS budget annually. This has led
to a new initiative aimed at reducing costs in the
sector. There is also a pressing need to allow genuine
claimants to receive fair and reasonable compensation
without having to sue the negligent Trust.
The entire legal process is being reviewed. The NHS
Redress Scheme aims to speed up the
medical negligence claim process and encourage a
move away from the blame culture inherent in the NHS,
promoting openness with the emphasis on learning from
mistakes. The scheme also aims to target the money spent
on litigation to redirecting it for the benefit of the
injured patients.
In other words the money should go to the claimants
not their lawyers. The NHS Redress Bill gives the
Secretary of State the power to establish an NHS Redress
Scheme and place a duty on providers and commissioners
of hospital services to ensure patients receive a more
consistent, speedy and appropriate response to clinical
negligence.
The scheme will cover low monetary value claims, with
the initial upper limit expected to be set at £20,000.
It is designed to offer patients a real alternative to
litigation, avoiding the long delays and legal costs
typical of the current system." Other key elements of
the NHS Redress Bill and Scheme include: Provision for
patients to receive redress in the form of care. A duty
on all scheme members to appoint an appropriate person
responsible for learning from mistakes. A more
proactive approach to clinical negligence, with the onus
no longer on the patient to initiate a claim.
All scheme members will be required to review
adverse incidents and trigger the scheme themselves,
where appropriate. Visit the official site:
Dept of Health
NHS Complaints procedures
CALL 0800 0322210 - or if
preferred contact our discreet ONLINE CHAT LINE - or
complete our enquiry form opposite.
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