Editorial: Are Lawyers Responsible for Low Morale in the NHS?

Abstract

Are greedy fat cat lawyers really to blame for the miserable state of the NHS – or is there a far deeper and more complex explanation – starting with poor management at all levels, unacceptable standards of care, non-compliant patients and year-on-year underfunding? The government is keen to stem the increasing flow of cash out of the NHS in settlement of clinical negligence and other claims – and most particularly to prevent a sizeable percentage from winding up in lawyers’ pockets. How much better if their fees could be retained for the NHS to fund more doctors and nurses and cleaning staff and re-equip struggling hospitals. How much better for patients if standards were actually improved. Doctors bemoan their dramatic loss of Olympian status and dented morale on the “blame” and greed culture that is being exploited and milked by odious and parasitic lawyers (who profit from other people’s misfortunes) and pocket fees which are often grossly disproportionate to the damages recovered by their clients. It is often forgotten when outrageous and extravagant figures are bandied about in the media that a substantial proportion of the fees earned by lawyers and their medical experts (who by rights should be hard at work treating people not propping up negligence claims against their colleagues) flows back into the government’s coffers as taxed income. But how much more fun to have the whole lot so that it can be spent on jollier projects like the Dome at Greenwich.