HSE facing €2bn bill for medical claims

THE health service owes almost €2billion in payouts and legal costs for medical claims, the Irish Daily Mail can reveal.

Figures sent to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee reveal that there are 39 active claims that could result in the HSE paying out €10million-€15million in each case.

Moreover, there are 84 active cases that could cost €5million-€10million each, and 160 that could cost between €500,000 and €1million.

There are 5,373 active claims in both the categories of clinical and general indemnity and an actuarial estimate for the cost of these has been set at €1.92billion.

Some 28 of these claims are still outstanding from 2012, with the figures rising each subsequent year. A total of 1,531 claims lodged last year are still active.

The Public Accounts Committee earlier this year sought details about the breakdown of the estimated cost of payouts due to come down the line, and of the cost of the HSE’s own legal expenses.

The analysis, which was sent to the Dáil committee, details the active claims by how much they may cost. This analysis shows that while around 92% of the active claims fall within the under-€500,000 band, around 8% of cases are estimated to drive a significant amount of the estimated liability. The HSE also owes nearly €500million in legal costs.

Further information supplied to the PAC reveals that 86% of the total number of claims on the system arose in the period from 2012 to 2016 and that the value of claims in that timeframe is around 71% of the total estimated bill.

It comes following two of the biggest settlements in the HSE’s history earlier this year.

In March, the High Court approved a €17.8million final settlement to the family of Tadhg Costello, 11, from Killorglin in Kerry after he suffered severe brain damage at birth.

Due to a delay in his delivery and an acknowledged failure to treat his case as an emergency, Tadhg suffered severe brain damage when he was born in Kerry General Hospital on May 25, 2006.

Tadgh has cerebral palsy and needs around-the-clock care.

In another case earlier this year, eightyear-old Jack Leane was awarded a €15million settlement after being braindamaged at birth.

The boy’s family sued the HSE over his care before and during his birth at Cork University Hospital on August 11, 2008.