§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the expenditure on insurance against medical negligence claims by(a) North Bristol NHS trust and (b) all NHS hospital trusts in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [150566]
§ Ms StuartThe clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST) commenced on 1 April 1995. This is not insurance, but rather a risk-pooling arrangement within the national health service administered by the NHS Litigation Authority. The size of an individual trust's contribution will depend on a number of factors including their claims history and excess level.
North Bristol NHS trust's net contribution to the CNST for 2001–02 was £342,956 with an excess level of £50,000; and for 2000–01 was £382,369 with an excess level of £100,000. This trust formed as a result of a merger between Frenchay and Southmead NHS trusts in April 1999, and so no directly comparable information is available before that date.
Figures for CNST contributions for all NHS trusts are available for each year back to 1995–96. Tables setting out this information will be placed in the Library in due course.
As the CNST did not exist before April 1995, no comparable figures are available before that date.