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.
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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