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NHS: Negligence

Volume 492: debated on Thursday 14 May 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many completed cases have been brought against the NHS for incidents of negligence involving malnutrition and effects of hunger in each year since 1997; and at what cost to the public purse. (273546)

We cannot provide the information requested because the number of incidents by year may result in identification of a patient. However, the NHS Litigation Authority has provided the following table, which covers claims made against national health service trusts, NHS foundation trusts and primary care trusts across the period since 1997:

Number of settled claims where the claim was made between 1997 and 2009 and where one of the injuries is recorded as malnutrition as at 30 April 2009

Settled—nil damages

Settled with damages

Number of claims

1

5

Damages paid

118,019

Defence costs paid

29,019

Claimant costs paid

101,200

Total paid

248,237

Note:

The damages paid for these claims may include damages for other injuries within the claim, and not just damages for malnutrition.