NHS compensation claims costs soar in Reading
More than £14 million has been paid patients following compensation claims over the past five years in Reading, it has been revealed.
A report by the Evening Post stated that claims made against Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH), Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, NHS Berkshire West and the South Central Ambulance Service almost doubled during the period.
The biggest expenses were reportedly incurred by the RBH NHS Foundation Trust and were put at £13,445,529 to cover compensation claims from 200/4 to 2007/8.
Most of the amount was spent on insurance although the hospital was also said to have paid out more than £500,000 for claims including employer’s liability and property damage and theft.
The report added that payouts for clinical compensation at the RBH rose on average by about £1 million a year.
It also claimed that the RBH was not available for comment, just as it said further that figures showed that patients received £4,759,167 in 2007/8 in compensation.
Updated on 4/6/2009