Mr. Tony O'Brien:

It is an impossible figure to give because there are daily interactions between clinical and other staff and persons who have not had the desired outcome from their medical treatment. Many of these cases result in larger settlements because of significant lifetime needs arising from the adverse incident. It is unlikely that they will go away, particularly in a case where there has been a major adverse consequence from surgery, or a failure to provide appropriate treatment which has resulted in significant harm and additional care needs. We need to have a situation where the health service is confident enough to be honest with patients about what has happened. That is the thrust of the work of our clinical governance system that is ongoing. Many of the cases coming to court predate the contemporary approach to these issues. There is a necessary timelag with these cases because it takes time for the true need to materialise in order that an appropriate award can be made.