Glasgow's health board facing multi-million bill for medical blunders

Figures show NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is currently dealing with almost 600 compensation claims from patients or bereaved relatives.

A total of 341 patients are seeking damages against NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for medical negligence.

Over 2012-13 the board paid out more than £39million to patients.

Women affected by serious complications caused by mesh implants make up the second highest number of claims.

A total of 166 cases are currently being dealt with by the board.

Mesh implants are aimed at treating prolapse and bladder problems, but some women have experienced serious complications.

More women have been affected in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK.

The figures, obtained by Freedom of Information laws, detail the number of open claims lodged between April 1 2012 and March 31 2015.

A total of 559 claims have yet to be settled by the health board.

A total of 17 compensation claims are outstanding from patients affected by asbestos-related illness.

The health board is currently dealing with two cases from families affected by the baby ashes scandal, where the remains of dead infants were dispersed without their parents’ consent.

Other compensation claims have been lodged for distress (18) and 15 cases are outstanding where death was cited as the reason.

Patrick McGuire, a partner at Thompson’s Solicitors said the firm was currently representing 100 women affected by mesh implant complications.

He said: “There will be the compensation costs and the legal costs and both, I would have thought, will be quite significant across that many cases.

“It’s pretty clear it’s going to be tens of millions of pounds.”

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the largest board in Scotland and this is reflected in the amount paid out on compensation claims.

“The number of claims has not changed but the amounts being paid out are bigger.”

In March this year a Lanarkshire woman whose baby suffered brain damage during birth won a 16-year fight for £5.25m compensation.

Nadine Montgomery, 40, claimed medics neglected to give her proper advice which may have led to her son Sam having a safer caesarean birth in 1999.

Her damages claim had been rejected on two previous occasions at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Judges at the Supreme Court in London upheld her major damages claim against NHS Lanarkshire.

Are you considering legal action against the NHS? Call our health reporter on 0141 302 6535*

Ongoing compensation claims against NHSGGC

Medical negligence 341

MESH 166

Distress caused 18

Asbestos 17

Death 15

Baby ashes 2