Results 3,761-3,780 of 11,601 for speaker:Colm Burke

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Previously, they were not covered, as I understand it.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: They are fully covered for inquests now?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: A comparison with the UK was done and I believe the total amount paid out in the past year here in Ireland was €513 million. Is it correct that £13.3 billion was paid out in the UK?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: In the UK?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: That is far higher than what it is in Ireland in real terms, considering that the population of the UK is 56 million. If we divide that figure by 5 million, we get around 11. If 513 million is multiplied by 11, we will only get around 5.5 billion. In other words, the UK has a far higher level of claims in real terms if the annual cost there is £13.3 billion.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I have been dealing with claims and a claim in relation to Belgium in particular. The level of compensation in Belgium would be around one third of what it would be here in Ireland. Have we done comparisons with other EU countries, not only as regards the value of the claims but also the amount of claims?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I accept that, but is it not also good to see how are we comparing with other EU countries? If we looked at three or four jurisdictions in Europe, how are they dealing with the level of claims? Were we to take, say, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands, how do we compare with those countries in real terms? It would be useful to know if there is something we can learn from those countries as...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Is there then a reason for looking at that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: At any stage, has the State Claims Agency suggested to the Department that it look at these to see what changes can be made to assist families where there is an adverse outcome and therefore avoiding the whole issue in relation to claims? Is there not a reason for looking at that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: I have come across cases where, even where there is an adverse outcome in a hospital, because there is such a disconnect between the various sections in the HSE, between the hospital system and the community system, that families find it difficult to get the back-up support that was committed to delivered on. Is further engagement with the HSE needed to deal with that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Mr. Breen highlighted the issue in relation to maternity claims. There are 19 maternity hospitals. Are the ratios of patients per hospital unit comparable? Does further work need to be done on any one of those 19 units to reduce the level of risk and claims?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: A number of private hospitals are not connected to the HSE. Has there been any engagement with the private hospitals on what they are doing differently in order to reduce claims on their side? Obviously, they have claims as well. The big difference there is that none of them are now doing maternity. Unfortunately, because of the level of insurance, the last two that were ended up having...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Similarly, has there been any engagement with the NHS in the UK on its system of managing cases or adverse outcomes? This is all a learning exercise. It is about reducing the level of claims and adequately dealing with families and providing supports to them as well.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Can I ask one final question?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: The opening statement set out that in respect of the amount claimed for legal expenses, what is settled for is 41% less. Sometimes cases go into court because the amount sought is far higher than the value the State Claims Agency put on it. Looking at the amount that is originally sought in a claim and what it ultimately settles for, what kind of percentage reduction occurs overall? I know...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: It would be useful. At times people wonder why cases go into a hearing but there is no explanation of what the State Claims Agency's assessment of what the case is valued at and the amount being looked for. It would be useful from the agency's perspective to keep a record of that so that when it comes back in here it can clearly tell us that the amount of cases where €50 million was...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: But there is a problem, in that there is a lack of understanding out there. People do not understand why the State is fighting a case -----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Financial Statements of the State Claims Agency: Discussion
Chapter 20: Management of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the Report on the Accounts of Public Services 2021 (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: ----- and it would be useful from that point of view to explain. The agency is there protecting the money for the taxpayers. Yes, it is accepted that people are entitled to be compensated. The agency puts a value on a claim after detailed analysis by its experts, forensic accountants etc.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: As Deputy Catherine Murphy flagged this item for discussion, would it be appropriate-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (2 Mar 2023)

Colm Burke: Okay. As long as she is happy. In fairness, she is usually present at meetings and we should facilitate her.