"NHS payouts for negligence"

I recently posted an opinion about my on-going dreadful experiences at Charing Cross hospital, London.

I have subsequently been doing some research on the hospital and in October 2008, the MP for Ilford North, obtained information via a parliamentary question regarding payments made by hospitals to NHS patients to settle claims for negligence. £73 million was paid out by the NHS in 2008 up to the date of the question, excluding legal fees.

Imperial Trust, which runs Charing Cross hospital, had the highest total - £11 million paid out to patients in 2008. You might think that Imperial Trust would be ashamed or apologetic; instead the spokesperson was reported in The Evening Standard newspaper of 30.10.08 as saying: “The figure was so high because the trust was the biggest in the country. Patient safety is paramount. We have the second best mortality rate in the country". I can only conclude that they only think it counts if they actually kill you through their negligence.