Emma Hallinan, MPS Director of Claims Policy and Technical, said:
“The cost of clinical negligence risks becoming unsustainable for the NHS and society. In lower value claims it is also not unusual to see lawyers’ costs exceed the damages awarded to claimants – this is simply not right. We are pleased Government is tackling this important issue; a package of legal reforms is desperately needed. Introducing fixed recoverable costs for small value claims could play a part - helping to ensure that legal costs do not dwarf compensation payments, and that money can be spent on patient care instead. We will study the proposal in detail and respond in due course.”
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About MPS
The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”) is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support together with the right to request indemnity for complaints or claims arising from professional practice.
Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.
Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.
MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.