NHS Litigation Authority
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The NHS Litigation Authority is a Special Health Authority of the English National Health Service (NHS).
It is responsible for handling negligence claims made against NHS bodies in England.
In addition it:
- has developed an active risk management programme to raise NHS standards and reduce incidence of negligence
- monitors human rights case law on behalf of the NHS
- co-ordinates claims for equal pay in the NHS
- handles Family Health Service appeals (i.e. disputes between doctors, dentists, opticians and pharmacists and NHS Primary Care Trusts) (since April 2005).
In 2004-5 the Authority dealt with 5,609 claims of clinical negligence and 3,766 of non-clinical negligence. About 38% of claims are abandoned by the claimant, and about 43% are settled out of court. In 2004-5 £502.9 million was paid out in respect of clinical negligence claims, and £25.1 million in respect of non-clinical negligence.
