HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 c420W
Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by regional health authority, the compensation payments paid to members of the general public in response to claims of negligence upheld against the authority in(a)1996–97, (b)1997–98, (c)1998–99, (d)1999–2000 and (e)2000–01. [46287]

Ms Blears

Regional health authorities were abolished in 1996 by the Health Authorities Act 1995. It is not therefore possible to break down figures relating to clinical negligence by regional health authority.

Overall figures for expenditure on clinical negligence are available for the following years, as follows:

£ million
1996–97 235
1997–98 144
1998–99 221
1999–2000 373

Note:

The figure for the year 2000–2001 is not yet available.

The figures are taken from the National Audit Summarised Accounts for health authorities, NHS trusts and NHS Litigation Authority. Changes to accounting policies mean that these amounts are not directly comparable.

These figures represent all expenditure for clinical negligence which will include compensation payments and legal expenses. Figures relating specifically to compensation payments for successful clinical negligence claims against NHS bodies are not available.