NHS medical negligence liabilities hit £60bn amid surge in maternity payouts
The NHS's medical negligence liabilities have reached a staggering £60 billion, driven primarily by a surge in maternity-related injury cases. The average cost to settle a childbirth injury case is over £11 million, contributing significantly to the ballooning liability. The total sum the NHS in England may have to pay out for staff mistakes has quadrupled from £14.4 billion in 2006-07, owing to an increase in claims and rising legal costs. Projections indicate the negligence bill is expected to reach £4.1 billion by 2029-30. While the number of cases settled has more than doubled from 5,625 in 2006-07 to 13,329 in 2024-25, the total number of settlements has fallen in 11 specialties but risen in 6 others. The report highlights the urgent need for stronger safety measures and improved patient care to mitigate the growing financial burden of medical negligence on the NHS.
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