Fair compensation

Billions of pounds are leaving the NHS in clinical negligence damages awards

This is putting an unsustainable strain on the NHS and affects us all - as medical professionals, as patients and as tax payers.

Take action - use your voice

Compensation to patients must be fair. The MDU is campaigning for legal reforms to ensure levels of compensation are proportionate and affordable, balancing the needs of society, the NHS and taxpayers.

What needs to happen:

• reform of how compensation awards are calculated
• tackle disproportionate legal costs in lower value claims
• damages for loss of earnings limited to three times the national average salary per year.

Get involved in the campaign

MDU calls for government action on clinical negligence costs

The MDU wrote to the health secretary Wes Streeting calling for him to consult on proposals to address the cost of clinical negligence. NHS Resolution revealed in its annual report that claimant legal costs increased by 11% to £545.3m in 2023/24, as reported in the Law Society Gazette.

Find out more

Change compensation laws in NHS interests

In this Times article, marking the NHS's 75th birthday, the MDU's Dr Michael Devlin explains that the relevant legislation governing compensation arrangements is older than the NHS itself (paywall applies). 

Read the news article here