Abstract
Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) causes high mortality and morbidity. Learning lessons from litigation are a standard aspect of risk management in many industries. This study, therefore, examined data from the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) on SAH to determine its usefulness in informing clinical risk management. Under the Freedom of Information Act, the NHSLA database was interrogated for cases of SAH. Data were retrieved from 1995 to 2008. Over this period, 126 cases relating to SAH were reported, 102 of which were closed. Damages were awarded in 64 cases, totalling £13.5 million. Seven claimants, associated with a high cost of continuing care, were awarded more than £0.5 million. Mean damages awarded were circa £211k. The majority of successful claims related to failure/delay to diagnose or treat. On average, 10 cases of SAH were reported annually to the NHSLA. The rate of successful litigation was circa 1:769 presenting cases of SAH. Using lessons learned from litigation to manage risk requires good quality-supporting data. Information in the NHSLA database is limited and precludes detailed root-cause analysis. The initial concept of the NHSLA database as a claims management tool perhaps represents a lost opportunity.
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