THE NHS in Scotland paid out tens of millions of pounds in compensation last year to patients harmed during their treatment, statistics reveal.
The figures, obtained by Scotland on Sunday under Freedom of Information laws, showed that more than £34 million was awarded in compensation in 2010/11 - the majority paid out in clinical negligence cases involving failures in the care of patients.
Only Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board refused to part with the information. It is expected however, that figures from Scotland's largest board - to be published later this year - will take the total to record levels.
Patients' campaigners said the large sums being paid out meant the NHS needed to work harder to stop mistakes being made. As well as clinical negligence pay-outs, boards also paid compensation in non-clinical cases, such as injuries to staff and employment disputes.
But the biggest pay-outs made by the NHS often involve birth-related injuries where babies are deprived of oxygen, leaving them brain damaged with conditions such as cerebral palsy.
Because the patients may require round-the-clock care for the rest of their lives, families can receive multi-million pound payments to support them.
The latest figures reveal several boards faced a high level of pay-outs last year, including £8.7m by NHS Lothian, £7.8m from NHS Lanarkshire, £5.9m from NHS Highland and £5.8m from NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
In 2009/10, Greater Glasgow and Clyde paid out almost £21m in compensation. If a similar level of award was made last year, Scotland could see its biggest compensation bill to date.
In 2008/09, pay-outs stood at £31.9m, rising to more than £49m in 2009/10.
Compensation payments can relate to clinical negligence cases dating back many years, meaning amounts can fluctuate from year to year as long-running cases are resolved after legal battles.
Margaret Watt, chair of the Scotland Patients Association, said better training could help prevent errors being made by NHS staff.
"Everybody makes mistakes, but you cannot afford to make mistakes with people's lives," she said.
"These are the bad cases that are coming through the net. There needs to be better training of younger doctors. Their training is not as robust as it was many years ago."
Watt said the NHS needed to ensure that it had systems in place to stop mistakes happening in the first place to help reduce its bill for compensation.
source: scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com
Scotland Claims
Misdiagnosis Claims
