The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has delivered a scathing rebuke to both the government and NHS England, accusing them of failing to implement any meaningful measures to curb the escalating costs of clinical negligence, despite repeated warnings spanning two decades.
Spiralling Financial Burden on the NHS
According to the committee's findings, the total liabilities for medical negligence within the NHS have experienced a dramatic surge, quadrupling to an astonishing £60 billion since the 2006-07 financial year. This staggering figure underscores a system under immense financial strain, struggling to maintain patient safety standards.
Annual settlement costs have similarly skyrocketed, tripling to £3.6 billion, placing further pressure on NHS resources that could otherwise be directed towards frontline care and service improvements.
Lack of Coordinated Action and Delayed Reviews
The PAC report highlights significant concerns regarding the Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) approach. The department has reportedly not committed to initiating new improvement activities until an ongoing review is completed, a review which currently lacks a definitive end date, creating a cycle of inaction.
MPs on the committee pointed to a critical lack of coordination in patient safety strategies across the health service, coupled with insufficient data collection on the root causes of clinical negligence incidents. This data gap hinders the development of effective, targeted interventions to prevent future harm.
Maternity Care Failings as a Key Driver
Tragic and persistent failings in maternity care have been identified as a major contributor to the rising negligence claims. In a stark illustration of the human cost behind these statistics, one family recently secured a £37 million settlement in one of the largest maternity negligence claims in NHS history.
The PAC has issued a direct call to the DHSC, demanding the publication of the long-awaited Amos Review into maternity service failings within the next two months. This must be accompanied by a concrete, actionable plan designed to reduce both patient harm and the associated financial costs.
Demands for a Comprehensive Government Strategy
Beyond immediate actions on maternity services, the committee is urging the formulation of a broader, cross-government strategy specifically aimed at tackling the systemic issue of clinical negligence. This strategy would need to address prevention, improved safety protocols, and more efficient claims handling to stem the financial haemorrhage and, most importantly, protect patients.
The PAC's report paints a picture of a health service caught in a costly cycle, where financial liabilities for past failures compromise the ability to invest in future safety, demanding urgent and decisive leadership from both NHS England and the government.
