Committee publication · Correspondence · 29 June 2026
Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care relating to Treasury Minute: cost of clinical negligence update, 19 June 2026
From: Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry: Costs of clinical negligence
Summary
The Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care responds to the Public Accounts Committee's follow-up questions on clinical negligence costs. The letter details patient safety improvements achieved through the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, including over 1,900 neonatal lives saved and specific maternity care interventions, while maintaining the government's position that calculating avoidable harm costs does not align with current safety science.
Key findings
- NHS Patient Safety Strategy has delivered measurable outcomes: 1,900+ neonatal lives saved, 600+ fewer cerebral palsy cases in premature babies (saving £600m in lifetime costs), 1,900+ deaths prevented through medicines safety programmes, and 97% reduction in valproate prescribing in pregnant people since 2018
- Martha's Rule escalation calls resulted in treatment changes for roughly 1,900 patients, with 570+ requiring transfers to higher levels of care; implemented across 15 maternity and neonatal sites in England
- Government rejects tracking 'avoidable harm' costs, arguing no single cost-effective mechanism exists for identifying avoidable harm; instead recommends relying on Patient Safety Strategy metrics and David Lock KC's expert advice
- Maternity-specific investments include £149m Estates Safety Fund, £7.8m Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth programme, and Maternity Outcomes Signal System (SPEN portal) which logged 2,754 notifications in first 8 weeks, releasing 8 weeks of clinical time
- National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will develop action plan following Baroness Amos' independent investigation recommendations expected June 2026
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Samantha Jones, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, David Lock KC, Baroness Amos, Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, NHS Resolution, MHRA
Notable line
“There is no evidence that an increase in clinical negligence claims signals a deterioration in safety.”
Key Quotes
“There is no evidence that an increase in clinical negligence claims signals a deterioration in safety.”
“… the Strategy can now demonstrate over 1900 neonatal lives saved through safer care bundle interventions, including improvements in optimal cord management and the administration of antenatal steroids …”
“The medicines safety improvement programme has prevented more than 1900 deaths overall and saved around £9million in preventing medication related unplanned admissions.”
“… calculating the costs of 'avoidable' harm in healthcare does not align with current safety science. There is no single, cost-effective mechanism for identifying 'avoidable' harm”
“… escalation calls have resulted in changes in treatment for roughly 1900 patients, with more than 570 patients requiring transfers of care to high dependency or intensive care units, enhanced levels of care or a tertiary centre.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗