§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many awards in excess of £100,000 for medical accidents caused through negligence were notified to his Department in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and if he will list the awards together with the health authority involved.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe Department does not keep detailed statistics on such cases. However, health authorities are expected to keep the Department informed during negotiations for settlement or during the course of litigation. The Department's approval is required to write off (in health authorities' accounts) compensation payments in excess of £100,000 made under legal obligation although it may be several years between an initial notification and actual write-off. The following awards/settlements in excess of £100,000 for medical accidents caused through negligence were actually notified to the Department for write off purposes by health authorities in each of the financial years 1982–83 to 1987–88:
410W
Year and Health Authority Amount of award/ settlement (£) 1982–83 — — 1983–84 Croydon 250,000 Swindon 534,000 1984–85 Hounslow and Spelthorne 220,760 Islington 235,000 1985–86 Bassetlaw 385,000 Grimsby 270,000 Solihull 250,000 Swindon 275,000 1986–87 Bath 175,000 Cambridge 151,222 Central Birmingham 175,000 Central Manchester 207,000
Year and Health Authority Amount of award/settlement (£) East Berkshire 550,000 North Lincolnshire 130,000 Nottingham 115,000 Nottingham 375,000 Walsall 260,000 Wandsworth 600,000 West Surrey and North East Hampshire 150,498 1987–88 Bloomsbury 430,000 Crewe 375,000 Torbay 350,000 Note: The figures shown represent the total amount of the award/settlement, excluding costs. They do not take account of the fact that the health authority's liability may have been reduced by a contribution from a medical defence organisation.