Trust which runs Grantham Hospital pays out more than £19 million in medical negligence claims
The trust which runs Grantham Hospital paid out more than £19 million in medical negligence claims last year.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust paid £19.274 million according to figures released by NHS Resolution which handles claims on behalf of NHS trusts. The figures show that ULHT and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust paid a total of £32.571 million in claims.
The number includes actual damages, defence costs and claimant costs.
The ULHT figure includes £12,211,681 in damages, £1,712,036 in defence costs and £5,350,638 in claimant costs.
However, the total figure is down on the year before, when ULHT paid out £29.994 million in claims.
Dr Neill Hepburn, medical director for ULHT, said the payments were covered by a contribution to NHS Resolution.
“There is a rising trend of compensation claims nationally and every NHS trust pays a contribution to an organisation called the NHS Resolution each year,” he said.
“This contribution is like an insurance premium, the quantity is calculated by the NHS Resolution and they settle all claims on behalf of ULHT.
“Therefore any funds paid out in litigation cases are not paid by ULHT. This is covered by the insurance premium paid each year to NHS Resolution.
“We aim to provide the best quality care to each and every one of our patients. Where mistakes may have occurred, the trust uses this as an opportunity to learn lessons and improve the quality of care for our patients.”