The NHS in England faces a record £60bn in liabilities for medical negligence, driven largely by costly childbirth injury claims, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The total sum the health service may have to pay to settle lawsuits has quadrupled from £14.4bn in 2006-07, amid rising claims and legal costs.
The cost of settling clinical negligence actions has surged from £1.1bn to £3.6bn over the same period, with much of the increase linked to babies suffering brain damage during birth. Maternity claims cost an average of £11.2m each to settle, the NAO revealed.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, called the £60bn bill “astounding”. He noted it is the second largest liability across government after public sector pensions, and forecasts suggest costs could continue to grow substantially.
During 2024-25, GP services accounted for the highest number of settled cases at 2,914, but obstetrics cases involving cerebral palsy or other brain damage, though fewer at 1,016, were far more costly at £1.6bn. The NAO urged stronger safety measures to prevent harm.
Separately, the cost of repairing NHS hospitals in England has soared to almost £16bn, up from £13.8bn last year. NHS leaders warned that patients are at risk from “decrepit” buildings, with some “falling to bits, literally”.
