§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) of 15 December 1992,Official Report, column 184, when the cost to the NHS of medical negligence claims in 1991–92 will be made available; and what is the reason for their earlier non-availability.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe cost of claims settled during 1991–92 is estimated at around £58 million. This information had not been received from health authorities when my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) asked his question in December 1992.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to collect and collate details of NHS medical negligence claims to identify patterns and trends to enable advice to be given to health authorities, NHS trusts and general practitioners.
§ Mr. SackvilleWe require health authorities and national health service trusts to provide annual returns of the costs of claims settled each financial year. A working group with representatives of the Department and the NHS is to be set up to look at the handling of medical negligence claims in the NHS, and will consider the adequacy of information collected.