PAC outlines recommendations to tackle rising clinical negligence costs
The Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) has published a report examining the rising costs of clinical negligence, setting out a series of detailed recommendations aimed at addressing long-standing issues. It criticises the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England for failing to take meaningful action despite repeated warnings. The Committee finds that clinical negligence liabilities have reached £60bn in 2024–25, with annual settlement costs of £3.6bn. It recommends that the DHSC produce a clear operational plan to reduce claim volumes and costs and publish David Lock KC’s review within six months of its completion. The PAC also calls for a national framework to improve patient safety, reforms to the NHS complaints system to increase local resolution, improved tracking of the costs of avoidable harm and updates on NHS progress in implementing the Dash Review and assessing the impact of abolishing the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).