Striking a balance: The professional viewpoint

In this video MPS’s medicolegal experts talk about today’s litigious society, and how this impacts on doctors and the way they practise.

Key points:

• In 2016/2017, the NHS spent £1.7bn on clinical negligence claims

• The NHS will need £65bn for future clinical negligence costs, for claims arising from incidents that have already occurred

• We live in a litigious society and there is more in the media about litigation and successful suing 
  Complainants often choose to pursue a claim instead of or as well as a complaint

• Almost 90% of the public is concerned about the financial pressures currently facing the NHS

• An increasingly litigious society also impacts on healthcare professionals

• 88% of MPS members are increasingly fearful of being sued

• For more than 70% of MPS members this fear has caused stress and anxiety and has impacted on their confidence in how they deal with patients

• 84% of MPS’s GP members have ordered more tests or made more referrals due to the fear of being sued

• Practising more defensively doesn’t always lead to improvements in medical practice; unnecessary tests or investigations are not in the best interests of patients and may use up limited NHS resources