€60m to be paid out for medical errors

MORE than €60 million will be paid out to patients who have suffered from serious medical errors in the health service this year – a massive rise which almost equals the total figure over the last five years.

Speaking at the Irish Hospital Consultants Association annual conference in Cavan at the weekend, Senior State Claims Agency (SCA) official Dr Ailis Quinlan said the major sum will be provided as compensation for thousands of medical negligence claims being taken by patients.

The figure, which is just €13m lower than the total paid out by the State between 2003 and 2008, is six times higher than the €11m provided in 2006 and €20m more than in 2008.