Vol. 548 No. 4
140 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the clinical negligence scheme being implemented by his Department is an adequate response to the present crisis in relation to clinical negligence claims. [5063/02]
The proposed clinical negligence scheme has three core objectives: to allow for speedier settlement of valid claims by eliminating the need for the multiple defendants required by the present insurance-indemnity arrangements; to place the financing of the cost of settling claims on a secure footing, following the intended withdrawal of several insurance companies from the medical malpractice market; the establishment of the clinical negligence scheme will facilitate the introduction of comprehensive risk management programmes in hospitals and other health care facilities. These objectives have the potential to make a significant contribution to the enhancement of patient safety.
The clinical negligence scheme addresses several of the major problems which confront the health services in this area. There are other issues which do not fall within my area of responsibility, such as how the civil litigation process operates, which also need to be examined.
