£16m bill for clinical negligence at trust

More than £16m has been spent in the past three years settling clinical negligence cases involving poor care at the district’s hospitals.

Latest figures show that between 2010 and 2013, £16.6m was paid to settle 280 clinical negligence claims against Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals.

Mid Yorkshire pointed out that only a small minority of all patients treated at the hospitals made claims for negligence.

A spokeswoman said: “We see hundreds of patients every day and the vast majority tell us they are happy with their care.

“According to latest figures, around 95 per cent of patients are likely to recommend our services to their friends or family and only a small number ever need to make a claim.”

In the same period, £28m was paid for negligence claims at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital, after 391 claims were lodged.

Payouts are made by the NHS Litigation Authority, which health service trusts pay to settle legal claims on their behalf.

The figures do not include non-clinical claims like as accidents on NHS premises.

This article is courtesy from the Wakefield Express.