Clinical/Social Care Negligence Cases in Northern Ireland (2017/18)

The Department of Health (DoH) today published statistics collected from Health & Social Care (HSC) Trusts, Agencies and Legacy Health and Social Services (HSS) Boards on all clinical/social care negligence cases in the north of Ireland open during the year ending 31st March 2018.

The statistical bulletin presents information on clinical/social care negligence cases that were open at any stage during the year ending 31st March 2018.

Key points

The key findings presented in the statistics release are listed below.

Payments in 2017/18:

• During the last four years, the amount paid on clinical/social care negligence cases decreased by £5.7 million (13.8%), from £41.4 million in 2014/15 to £35.7 million in 2017/18 (Table 1).
• Of the £35.7 million paid on clinical/social care negligence cases in 2017/18, almost three quarters (73.8%, £26.3m) was paid in damages, £6.1 million (17.0%) in plaintiff costs and £3.3 million (9.1%) in defence costs (Figure 2, Table 2).
• Payments to Date:
• During 2017/18, 3,734 clinical/social care negligence cases were open at any stage, 357 (10.6%) more than in 2013/14 (3,377) (Table 3).
• In 2017/18, 744 new cases were opened, 522 cases were closed, whilst 2,945 cases remained open and 267 cases had been settled at 31st March 2018 (Figure 5, Tables 4 - 8).
• Clinical/social care negligence cases open at any stage in 2017/18, had been open on average for 2.6 years, similar to 2016/17 (2.6 years) (Figure 11).
• Over half (55.3%, 2,066) of all clinical/social care negligence cases related to four specialties; ‘Obstetrics’ (674), ‘Accident & Emergency’ (629), ‘General Surgery’ (397) and ‘Trauma and Orthopaedics’ (366) (Table 14).
• A total of £116.7 million has been paid to date on the 3,734 clinical/social care negligence cases which were open at any stage during 2017/18. Over three quarters (76.2%, £88.9m) has been awarded in damages and £27.8 million (23.8%) paid out in legal costs (defence and plaintiff) (Table 15).
• Over half (53.7%, £62.7m) of the amount paid out on clinical/social care negligence cases open at any stage during 2017/18 related to the ‘Obstetrics’ speciality, of which, four fifths (80.3%, £50.3m) had been paid in damages (Table 16).

The information release is published on the Departmental website.

Notes to editors: 

1.  The information detailed in this publication is derived from the Departmental CN1 and CN1a statistical returns provided by & Social Care (HSC) Trusts, Agencies and Legacy Health and Social Services (HSS) Boards.

2.  All information has been validated with Health & Social Care Trusts, and incorporates all returns and amendments received up to 19 October 2018.

3.  Further information on Clinical/Social Care Negligence statistics is available from:

Hospital Information Branch
Department of Health
Annexe 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont, BT4 3SQ

Email: hib.questions@health-ni.gov.uk
Internet

4. For media enquiries please contact the Department of Health Press Office team on 028 9052 0575 or email: pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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