§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on clinical negligence claims faced by the NHS; and how many claims there have been in each year since 1995. [58209]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 23 May 2002]: The Department does not hold figures for all clinical negligence claims made against the national health service.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of medical negligence the NHS Litigation Authority is(a) investigating and (b) defending against compensation claims brought against health authorities by former patients. [59569]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 24 May 2002]: The national health service litigation authority is currently handling 1,929 clinical negligence cases brought against health authorities. All of these claims are defended until they are settled or successfully repudiated and it is not possible to show which of these are being investigated.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the proposed White Paper on clinical negligence indicated in the Department of Health's response to the Kennedy report published in January. [58999]
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the White Paper on clinical negligence Reform. [59566]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 24 May 2002]: In July 2001 the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) was asked to set up an advisory group to look at the reform of clinical negligence in the national health service. It has not yet been possible to publish proposals for reform, because of the complexity of the issues raised by potential reforms, the need to consult widely (including through the Lord Chancellor's Department on how compensation is paid) and also to consider how potential proposals sit alongside a concurrent review of the NHS complaints procedure. Nevertheless, the CMO has now held the last of his advisory group meetings and will shortly publish the findings along with recommendations for reform.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated net value of outstanding clinical negligence claims against the NHS in England was at 31 March 2000. [59000]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 24 May 2002]: The estimated net value of outstanding clinical negligence claims against the national health service in England at 31 March 2000, as reported in the NHS Summarised Accounts for 1999–2000 was £2.6 billion.