NHS medical negligence liabilities hit £58.2bn amid calls to improve patient safety

The report called for urgent steps to reduce ‘tragic incidences of patient harm’ in the NHS and to end a situation where lawyers take 19% of compensation. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

The NHS’s total liabilities for medical negligence have hit an “astounding” £58.2bn amid ministers’ failure to improve patient safety, an influential group of MPs have warned.

The Commons public accounts committee (PAC) said the “jaw-dropping” sums being paid to victims of botched treatment and government inaction to reduce errors were “unacceptable”.