Learning lessons from claims

Abstract

The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has a remit to contribute to improvements in the safety of NHS patients and staff, and this article describes the ways in which information on the clinical negligence and non clinical liability claims managed by the Authority are used for risk management purposes. In March 2011, the NHSLA delivered a pioneering conference on Learning from mistakes in conjunction with claimant solicitors, Irwin Mitchell which considered the ways in which lessons have been learned from errors and explored opportunities for further improvements. The article concludes that the NHSLA has done much to promote learning from claims.