Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“I am astounded to discover through probing by an Assembly Question that last year our local health service spent almost £40m on litigation – £17.5m on legal costs and £21.5m on paying out compensation! This £40m spend is a dramatic increase of 60% from just three years ago when the spend was £25m.
“I note within these figures that the Belfast Trust is by far the biggest spender accounting for almost one third of the spend. It is also noticeable that the Department’s own legal costs have tripled in just three years.
“I do have to question the oversight and efficiency measures which accompany such a scenario. Of course, anyone with a legitimate claim against a Trust must be compensated, but why is the trend so much upwards – is there increasing negligence – and why are legal fees almost as high as the pay outs?”
Mr Allister’s Question and the Answer can be found here:
http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/questions/writtensearchresults.aspx?&qf=0&qfv=1&ref=AQW%2027285/11-15
