Money no one wants to have to receive or pay: negligence indemnity schemes and models of clinical-insurer engagement

Clinical negligence causes significant harm to patients, their families and also clinicians. Compensation awards and legal costs also deplete the finances of healthcare systems. No one wants to make or receive these payments, which could instead be reinvested in patient care. This collaborative project (with Professor Tim Draycott and Dr Chris Yau) aims to explore different models of state insurer engagement with maternity units that may improve care and outcomes, as well as reduce litigation costs. This study, funded by The Health Foundation, will draw on semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key personnel at five state insurers of clinical negligence: NHS LA (England), LOF (Sweden), VMIA (Melbourne), the Central Legal Office (Scotland) and Welsh Risk Pool Services. It will generate new empirical material about how these agencies attempt to engage with clinicians in order to prevent harm and improve safety.