MPS’s claims experience in South Africa has rapidly deteriorated over the last five years, in both frequency and value
Last week the Medical Protection Society (MPS) held a meeting with senior representatives of specialty groups within the medical profession, to discuss the rising cost and frequency of clinical negligence claims in South Africa, and to consider what can be done to influence medical negligence litigation in the future.
MPS’s claims experience in South Africa has rapidly deteriorated over the last five years, in both frequency and value. This year MPS settled its highest claim to date for a member in South Africa, at a total cost of nearly 24 million rand. MPS has shared information about its claims experience with the Government, which is experiencing a similar trend.
The purpose of the meeting was to explore how the group could work collaboratively to positively influence the current and future claims environment.
A key theme of the meeting was the recognition of the role that high quality communications played in improving patient experience
The group discussed how the limits placed on the road traffic fund had been an important factor in the rise of negligence claims, as lawyers looked for other types of personal injury cases, and whether there should be a similar type of cap in the clinical negligence field. MPS also shared with the group, examples of tort reform in other countries, such as Australia, Ireland and America, where similar concerns about clinical negligence costs had arisen in the past.
A key theme of the meeting was the recognition of the role that high quality communications played in improving patient experience and minimising clinical negligence claims. The value of education, including MPS’s communication skills workshops, was also highlighted.
Another theme was the desire for specialty specific data so that the colleges and societies could identify recurring themes and pinpoint the reasons for claims, and then look for solutions, including effective interventions that they could recommend.
An issue of real concern at the meeting was whether escalating costs and associated indemnity payments are sustainable
The role that the colleges and societies currently play in relation to peer review, audit and risk management was also discussed, as well as how those experiences could be shared more widely.
Dr Graham Howarth, MPS’s Head of Medical Services in Africa said, “There was strong agreement among the group about the value of collaborating in this way. We decided that we would meet again during 2012 to follow up on collective progress, and further consider how we might collaborate to give voice to the concerns of the profession about the cost and impact of clinical negligence on medicine.”
An issue of real concern at the meeting was whether escalating costs and associated indemnity payments are sustainable, not just for individual practitioners, but also the wider healthcare economy.
See background information attached on MPS’s claims experience in South Africa.