MDDUS has welcomed government plans to cap legal fees in clinical negligence cases against the NHS in England.
The proposals unveiled by Health Minister Ben Gummer aim to control excessive legal costs by setting a limit for claims up to £100,000. At present there is no limit on legal fees, even if the compensation claim is for a small amount.
MDDUS supports moves that benefit patients who have been harmed but also ensure that lawyer fees are proportionate in relation to the compensation received by the patient.
The proposal will be open to public consultation in the autumn and it is hoped the changes will save the NHS and professional staff millions of pounds each year.
MDDUS chief executive Chris Kenny says: "Medical negligence awards are made for the benefit of harmed patients, not the profitability of the legal services industry.
"We welcome the government's determination to cap wasteful costs and hope that their autumn proposals take the form of a practical, comprehensive action plan, capable of early implementation."
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