Compensation lawyers chasing NHS for botched care claims pocket over £1billion

COMPENSATION lawyers chasing the NHS for botched care claims have pocketed more than £1billion in the past three years, figures show.

Huge sums were paid in 31,441 cases against the health service to solicitors working for clients who made negligent claims.

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Taxpayers also paid £376million to NHS lawyers to defend the cases — which eventually cost £4.2billion in pay-outs.

It means for every £100 paid out in compensation just under £30 goes to law firms bringing the case.

NHS Resolution figures also reveal that for every case settled by the NHS between £25,000 and £50,000, the legal fees alone are nearly £50,000.

Lawyers say fees are pushed up by the NHS denying liability for blunders, which prolongs cases and increases costs.

NHS Resolution said: “We are committed to using all forms of dispute resolution to keep claims out of formal court processes. However, sometimes this is unavoidable.”

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