Negligence claims hit NHS costs

Some £25m was put aside for negligence claims

Scotland's health trusts have dramatically increased the amount of money set aside for medical negligence cases.

The rise is documented in a National Audit Office report published on Friday.

Its data was gathered mainly from accounts of health boards and health trusts from the 1998-99 financial year.

Between 1997 and 1998, £13.5m was put aside for recognised negligence claims, but the figure jumped to almost £25m in the following year.

A further £35m was also earmarked for other claims where the outcome was less certain.

The report also showed that the reduction in the number of Scottish health trusts from 47 to 28 cost almost £3m in terms of early retirement packages for 17 chief executives and directors.

MSP's concern

In general terms, auditors said their annual financial check-up for the Scottish NHS showed it was in a healthy state.

However, Argyll and Bute NHS trust was singled out for criticism for poor financial management.

The National Audit Office is independent from the UK Government. It approves the accounts of all government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies.

Scottish Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson, Nora Radcliffe MSP, said she would raise the issue in the Scottish Parliament next month.

"It is important that the public have absolute confidence in the NHS and such a rise in compensation payouts requires closer scrutiny, especially when such huge sums of money could have been invested in frontline care," she added.