Commenting on the NHS Resolution’s annual report and accounts 2023/2024 -

Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director at Medical Protection Society (MPS), said:

“While the number of reported NHS clinical negligence claims remains steady, the total cost of claims - £2.8bn, up from £2.64bn – continues to grow. As these costs spiral, more money is being diverted away from patient care and improvements to NHS services.

“The high cost of clinical negligence also has a significant impact on healthcare professionals not protected through a state-backed indemnity scheme – such as dentists and private practitioners – who bear the cost of protecting themselves against claims.

“A balance must be struck between compensation that is reasonable but also affordable, and this requires a long overdue strategy led by the health and justice departments. The new Government must turn its hand to this issue swiftly and consider some bold reforms if we are going to get close to addressing it.”

ENDS

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About MPS

The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”) is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.

MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.