What is the redress scheme?

The proposed NHS redress scheme will provide an administrative rather than a judicial route for claims up to £30 000 (€43 640, $54 420) and claims arising from severe neurological impairment related to birth (box). Initially, these schemes would apply only to the hospital sector but would eventually be extended to primary care.

The redress scheme proposes that hospitals investigate all adverse events, not only in response to a complaint or claim by the patient. Making Amends predicts about 850 000 adverse events a year, many more than the 33 000 complaints concerning hospital care or the 6797 new clinical claims reported to the NHS Litigation Authority in 2002-3. Although prompt investigation of adverse events that lead to serious injury is a sound risk management measure,3 investigating the larger number of adverse events that cause only minor harm will greatly increase the workload.

Reforms could result in more cases of medical negligence coming to court

Credit: MEPL