News archive

Collaboration on Covid clinical negligence claims reaps rewards

The collaborative approach taken by NHS Resolution, Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL) in designing and operating the Covid 19 Clinical Negligence Claims Protocol has significantly reduced the volume of clinical negligence claims that have become litigated and created savings benefiting the NHS and patients.

An explanation about a medical accident, and the lack of an apology, made up 45% of inquiries to AvMA in 2022

In 2022 AvMA received 419 written requests for advice and assistance from UK patients. In 45% of those cases, the inquiry was about the lack of an explanation when a medical accident had occurred and how to secure an investigation and an apology.

Unanimous support for funding of independent advice & advocacy

A summit of key stakeholders in healthcare in England today welcomed a new report on the need for independent advice and advocacy for people affected by avoidable harm in healthcare and called for it to be addressed. The was convened by the Harmed Patients Alliance who published the report “Signpost to Nowhere?”. The report sets out the fact that no funding is made available at all in England to ensure that patients or families affected by harm in NHS care can access independent advice and advocacy.

AvMA Reaction to East Kent Maternity report

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)  welcome the report of the inquiry led by Dr Bill Kirkup but expressed strong concerns about the state of England’s maternity services and renewed calls for urgent action to address concerns about safety.  Read full story>

 AvMA chief executive Peter Walsh said:

“The report is  vindication for those women and families who suffered avoidable harm and whose concerns were initially ignored. We had the privilege of providing some advice and support to Derek Richford, whose grandson Harry died avoidably at East Kent and who was a large reason for this inquiry coming about. The report is clear and pulls no punches, as you would expect from Bill Kirkup. However, we are seeing the same themes as we saw at Shrewsbury and Telford and Morecambe Bay before that. Currently there is an investigation into grave problems at Nottingham’s maternity services, led by Donna Ockenden. 38% of maternity services in England are rated inadequate or requiring improvement, and the number of clinical negligence claims about maternity service has gone up by 20%.

The trail of lost or ruined lives is getting longer and longer, and yet in spite of report after report making damning conclusions and urgent recommendations, not enough is being done to improve safety. In my opinion, what urgently needs to happen is recruiting and retaining enough midwives and doctors, improving training, and changing the culture in maternity services. There is still a sense of tribalism between the professions, and a reluctance to always put safety first – even before mantras like ‘natural birth’.”