The total NHS spend for clinical negligence last year was £1.6 billion, and the figure is forecast to double by 2021. These costs are driven partly by the success of no win, no fee agreements. Privatised access to justice is available to all, at no cost to the taxpayer, free at the point of need, according to the merits of the case. Claimants benefit also from one-way costs shifting — they do not risk paying health service costs if they lose. The challenge is to provide a compensation system that is fair, accessible, effective and affordable: to balance access to justice for a minority with access to health for the majority.

Source: The Times December 07, 2017 00:00 UTC