It has been revealed that almost £7 million was paid out by NHS Lothian in clinical negligence claims last year.
According to the health board’s annual accounts, a massive £6.8 million was spent simply on settling this type of claim, while an additional £59,000 was spent on non-clinical compensation.
Although the amount is significant, it is actually less than the previous year’s totals, which were approaching £10 million. Less than £1 million was successfully claimed in 2008.
Lothian Health chiefs claimed that although the number of compensation claims issued against the organisation has fallen, the amounts involved mean that the cost of each claim has risen over the years.
