Moore Blatch contributes expert evidence to Public Accounts Committee inquiry

Moore Blatch’s leading clinical negligence team has provided expert written evidence to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee for its inquiry into the Cost of Clinical Negligence in Trusts.

In their submission to the committee, Moore Blatch argued that there are two key reasons why clinical negligence costs have reached their current levels:

• Failure by the NHS to implement effective clinical risk management processes
• NHS Resolution’s determination to contest the overwhelming majority of claims far too long rather than agreeing an early settlement.

During the inquiry, Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester, mirrored the concerns expressed by Moore Blatch that there is a culture problem within NHS Resolution that hinders mediation efforts and drives up clinical negligence costs.

Gillian Keegan twice quoted excerpts in her questions to witnesses that included Helen Vernon, Chief Executive of NHS Resolution; Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health; Richard Heaton, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice; and Dr Kathy McLean, Executive Medical Director at NHS Improvement.

Moore Blatch’s clinical negligence team has significant experience in making successful claims against NHS Resolution on behalf of clients, and with six former NHS solicitors in their ranks the team possesses unique insight into the inner workings of NHS trusts’ litigation system. In the latest Legal 500 rankings Moore Blatch’s clinical negligence team was proud to have once again received a tier 1 ranking, the highest ranking the publication awards.

Tim Spring, Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence at Moore Blatch, said:

“Moore Blatch possesses one of the sector’s foremost clinical negligence teams, with a notable record of success in pursuing claims on behalf of our clients. We understand better than anyone the problems with the NHS’s litigation and risk management systems.

“We are pleased that the Public Accounts Committee took on board our concerns, and we hope this heralds the start of a constructive and balanced debate on the issue of rising clinical negligence costs for NHS trusts.”

The full submission to the Public Accounts Committee from Moore Blatch can be viewed online here, and the committee meeting can be watched online here.