NHS: Negligence
(asked on 19th March 2020) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much compensation was paid from the public purse in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (e) 2017, (d) 2018 and (e) 2019 for wrongful births.
NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England.
NHS Resolution have provided the following information:
NHS Resolution define “wrongful birth’’ as a clinical negligence claim brought by the parents of a child born with birth defects, alleging that negligent treatment or advice deprived them of the opportunity to avoid conception or terminate the pregnancy.
Number of Claims Closed/Settled with damages paid related to ‘Wrongful Birth’ per financial year
Year of closure (Settlement year for Periodical Payment Orders) | Number of Claims | Damages Paid £ |
2014/15 | 6 | 8,158,352 |
2015/16 | 13 | 17,313,513 |
2016/17 | 13 | 12,520,949 |
2017/18 | 16 | 13,363,110 |
2018/19 | 10 | 17,296,750 |
Note: The figures supplied are for each financial year rather than calendar year. The figures for the 2019/20 financial year are not yet available.