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UK's Clinical Negligence Costs Skyrocket to £60 Billion

1/30/2026

24 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the UK government and NHS England have failed to tackle costs of clinical negligence, which quadrupled to £60 billion since 2006-07.
MPs note 24 years of warnings and that annual settlement costs have reached £3.6 billion.
The PAC calls for transparency in handling errors and urges the Department of Health and Social Care to publish a plan to reduce harm and maternity-care costs.

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Story summary

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the UK government and NHS England have failed to tackle costs of clinical negligence, which quadrupled to £60 billion since 2006-07.
MPs note 24 years of warnings and that annual settlement costs have reached £3.6 billion.
The PAC calls for transparency in handling errors and urges the Department of Health and Social Care to publish a plan to reduce harm and maternity-care costs.