medical negligence claims increasing Gwent It has been revealed by health chiefs that because of the financial crisis, people are increasingly claiming medical negligence.
Over the last five years more than £ 4 million has been allocated to patients in health board Aneurin Bevan and claims jumped 40%.
The figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. In 2009, 136 applications for clinical errors were made against the organization, formerly known as the Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. This number represents an increase of 21% - up from 112 applications launched in 2008 and 41% of the 96 applications filed in 2005.
If a lawyer related injuries increase greater awareness of the shortcomings of the health system, health ministers said there is this increase is due to the recession.
Ken Thomas, a lawyer for a company in Newport, noted that because of changing times, a claim is more accessible. He continued that because the increased media coverage of clinical negligence action combined with a greater willingness to challenge the decisions of doctors that he was 20 years ago, which led to more people file a claim.
Mr. Thomas stated that among the cases of medical negligence constant in Gwent last year have been cases of elderly care medication error, ignorance of the fatal conditions, erroneous diagnosis of injuries in the accident and neglect of nursing.
He said that major disasters, including those involving brain damage that can lead to gains of millions of pounds, tend to take more than a decade to be constant, while the minor applications can be solved in a few months.
Among all cases, liability was admitted in 17 claims in 2009 and paid £ 76,029 in damages - up from 28 in 2008, leading to a salary of £ 211,654, and 44 in 2005, resulting in a payment of £ 2,793,010.
Mr. Thomas expects institutions to do in many more cases of the past five years "in the coming years.
A spokesman for the Council Aneurin Bevan Health said: "The image in terms of increased number of clinical negligence claims is reflected in Wales. There is a direct link between the increase in allegations of neglect and periods of economic recession.
"Of course not every claim is considered justified and lawyers Wales Legal Services Health will continue to vigorously defend the case on our behalf."
Husband seeks files
A person who has suffered from medical negligence was a man of Oakdale, whose wife died a blunder clinics.
The 64-year continued Gwent Healthcare Trust after his wife died at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport in March 2002. We think she died because of the blocking valve in his heart has not been detected.
Thanks to his case, he emphasized that neglect will only stop if people complain about the system and share their negative experiences.
The investigation into the death of his wife he was found the system rather than individuals, to the fault and changes were made following his death.
The widower said: "The more people who complain and take him to court, the more impact we hope it will end and there will be changes for the better."
Posted on February 27, 2010.
