Medical claims still stalled

THE bureaucratic delay in handing over medical claims to the new body responsible for reducing compensation costs will not be resolved for at least another month.

The Department of Health has yet to seek the authorisation of health boards to allow the State Claims Agency (SCA) to investigate compensation claims.

The delay means the State could be forced to pay out millions of euros more in compensation damages and legal costs arising from medical malpractice and clinical negligence cases.