§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements the NHS Litigation Authority has made concerning the Royal Liverpool children's litigation; and how the implementation of these arrangements is being monitored. [177275]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe National Health Service Litigation Authority agreed settlement terms for the Royal Liverpool children's litigation (RLCL) in a mediation, which took place in September 2002. Lump sum compensation of £5 million was made to a trust fund set up by the RLCL claimants. The payment was approved by the court.
The Royal Liverpool NHS Trust has completed all but one of the terms of the settlement that were agreed with the claimants at the mediation. The parents were unable to reach a consensus on the type of memorial to be developed, and have therefore agreed among them that the £5,000 should be donated to five children's charities. This final action is being taken forward.
A review meeting at the trust, attended by claimants, took place on 29 January 2004 to confirm implementation of the mediation agreement.