17 September 2004
A Conservative government would limit the use of legal aid in clinical negligence claims, the party said this week.
Shadow health minister John Baron said taxpayers were shouldering an increasing amount of the legal bill in clinical negligence cases.
The NHS in England paid out £446m in compensation in 2002/03 but Baron said more was often spent on administrative costs than received by victims.
He would reduce the cost burden by allowing legal aid only during the investigation of cases. 'Our proposals would broaden access to justice and impose commercial prudence on the legal process,' he added.
PFsep2004