I READ with a wry smile the various articles in the national press regarding the activities of firms of solicitors making massive amounts of money from suing the NHS.
There was widespread criticism of fees run up by lawyers seeking compensation from NHS Trusts.
The NHS would love to make anyone who seeks compensation seem like they are robbing some benevolent old grandma unable to look after itself and in no way to blame.
The truth I am afraid is just the opposite. I am sat on many files of papers in my office waiting for responses from the NHS. Our own local Trust is no different. We write a letter to the Trust and wait for a response. All of our letters offer to mediate with the Trusts but there is no response. Claimants are left with nowhere to go except to court.
Large amounts of public money is wasted simply because the NHS cannot in any case say “sorry, it’s our fault, we will compensate your client for her losses”. Nobody is becoming a millionaire by suing the NHS. What is certain is that there are better ways for the NHS to save money than trying to make us believe that it is all down to greedy lawyers. I am happy to have an open debate about this with the NHS if they want to.
Howard Nulty,
St Helens
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