June 9th, 2026

The Workers Party has urged the Health Minister to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the £180m spent on medical negligence cases.

Emphasising that this substantial figure excludes associated legal costs, the Party argues that the public deserves full transparency regarding this expenditure, particularly while health trusts are actively reducing services due to funding shortages. 

Although the Workers Party maintains that patients possess a fundamental right to seek redress for negligence, the Party insists that trusts must be held accountable for the total financial impact on the public purse.

We have significant concerns regarding the protracted nature of these cases, and we need to know how many result in court judgments versus out-of-court settlements, as well as the average duration of these proceedings. A central element of this argument is the necessity of a duty of candour. 

When trusts accept liability, prompt acknowledgment could prevent further patient trauma, minimise legal expenses, and redirect vital funds toward front-line care.

Our Party dismisses the frequent justification that legal advice mandates an initial denial of liability, characterising it as an excuse that hinders efficiency. According to the Workers Party, when internal procedures reveal clear negligence, trusts should settle immediately to protect both patients and public resources from unnecessary legal costs.

This situation is presented as an urgent matter of transparency, safeguarding, and professional accountability. While medical negligence is an inevitable reality in healthcare, the Party argues it should not be allowed to foster needlessly expensive and drawn-out legal processes.

In conclusion, we note that the current crisis in the health service, marked by staff shortages and service cuts, appears to be a calculated strategy to balance budgets at the expense of patients and staff and we questions whether the rising number of negligence cases, often delayed to avoid public scrutiny, is a predictable consequence of this systemic approach.