Multi-million pound compensation claims against GPs increase three-fold

In 2015, the MDU, the UK’s leading medical defence organisation, settled 12 compensation claims for more than £1 million on behalf of its GP and consultant members. By contrast in 2005, just four settled claims exceeded the £1 million mark and in 1995 only one patient received over £1 million in compensation from the MDU.

Over the last three years alone, more than £100 million has been paid out by the MDU to compensate patients and pay legal costs in 36 medical negligence claims that exceeded £1 million. The highest amount paid out by the MDU was £9.2 million to compensate a patient rendered tetraplegic after spinal surgery and pay legal costs. In another case involving a GP, £8.5 million in compensation and legal costs was paid for a missed diagnosis of a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Dr Michael Devlin, head of professional standards and liaison at the MDU said:

“We are seeing disturbing rises in the cost of clinical negligence claims and a surge of multi-million pound damages awards against our GP and consultant members. These payments are no reflection on clinical standards, which remain high, but rather a result of a combination of economic pressure and an outdated legal system meaning compensation costs are calculated on the basis of private, rather than NHS care.

“Medical claims inflation is running at 10% each year and the size of claims are doubling every seven years - a claim costing £9 million today is likely to cost at least £18 million by 2022.

“The combination of the increases in the size and number of compensation claims is leading to a toxic mix in which some GPs say indemnity is becoming unaffordable for them. If doctors are deterred from the profession or from taking part in certain work, that will be bad for the NHS and bad for patients.

“While GPs are acutely aware of the rising cost because they have to pay for their own indemnity, the high cost of claims is also a problem for the wider NHS. The NHS Litigation Authority pays out compensation claims on behalf of NHS trusts in England and is facing total estimated liabilities of £28.3 billion which will have to be met by the taxpayer.

“The cost of compensation is unaffordable throughout the NHS and needs to be addressed by the government through legal reform. This is the only effective way to relieve the pressure on individual GPs and on the wider health service. The reforms the MDU advocates would see patients compensated appropriately but in a fairer and more affordable way.”

You can see more about the MDU’s fair compensation campaign here .