§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health why information on awards to victims of medical accidents in respect of health authorities in England is not held centrally; and if he has any plans to gather such information.
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§ Mr. FreemanAwards for medical accidents in excess of £100,000 are notified to the Department. Awards below that figure fall within the delegated limits for authorities and are not notified separately to the centre. The Department is considering whether further information about medical accidents is needed and if so how it may be obtained.
§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to issue further advice to health authorities concerning appropriate action to be taken towards patients alleging medical accidents.
§ Mr. FreemanAction in response to complaints by patients (including allegations about treatment and medical accidents) should be taken in accordance with directions issued with circular HC(88)37 on hospital complaints procedures. No further advice is contemplated.
§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to review the weight given to the interests of patients in relation to negotiations between health authorities and medical insurance organisations in the event of medical accidents.
§ Mr. FreemanNegotiations between health authorities and medical defence organisations occur only when there is a prospect of a successful civil claim by a patient against a health authority or a medical practitioner represented by a medical defence organisation in respect of a medical accident. These negotiations are currently regulated by the terms of the agreement contained in memorandum HM(54)32. In such matters I would expect the best interests of the litigant patient to be protected by his or own legal advisors.
However we are currently consulting interested organisations on proposals whereby health authorities would indemnify medical and dental staff working in the NHS. This would bring them into line with other NHS staff who are already so covered. It is proposed that henceforth there will be no need for clinicians to be independently insured and therefore represented by medical defence organisations (although some may still wish to do so). This will necessarily involve review of the
19831 19841 1985 1986 1987 1988 United Kingdom usage of imported factor VIII concentrate (millions of international units 39.5 38.5 50.9 53.8 59.2 n/a Percentage of total United Kingdom usage of factor VIII concentrate 56.8 48.9 68.8 63.1 69.5 1 Does not include users with acquired haemophilia.