Queen's Speech Reforms 17.05.05 more

Peter Walsh, Chief Executive of AvMA said: “The devil will be in the detail. The original proposals set out by the Chief Medical Officer in 2003 would have been unworkable and unfair to patients. However, we have done a lot of work with the Department of Health in the meantime, and if they accept our arguments for introducing specialist representation for patients seeking compensation through the scheme, and if there is an independent assessment of people’s eligibility for compensation, it could be a viable alternative to litigation.
We want a scheme which would get to the bottom of why the error occurred and offer explanations and assurances that things will be put right as well as getting people quicker, less painful access to the compensation that they need and deserve”. The charity also welcomed proposed legislation to tighten up on the control of MRSA, but was critical of the wording of the proposed Compensation Bill. Mr Walsh said: “We are sick and tired of hearing the myth that there is a ‘compensation culture’ given credibility. All the evidence suggests that, especially in clinical negligence, only a fraction of those with a strong claim actually make one”.