Profession helps to halt litigation

In his letter, Mr Dobson said litigation cost the NHS &\#163;235m in 1996/97 - an increase of around 17 per cent on 1995/96. 'The Government is extremely concerned at the level of litigation affecting the NHS. Every pound that is spent in the courtroom is a pound not spent on patient care,' he added. Mr Dobson's letter seeks advice in three areas - on reducing the number of incidents which might lead to a claim, what can be done to ensure that patients understand the risks inherent in treatment and that their expectation of the NHS is reasonable, and how to improve the way the NHS deals with clinical negligence cases. Mr Dobson also said the most obvious way to reduce the risk of litigation was to tackle the problem at source by reducing poor or ineffective clinical practice and raising standards. GOC registrar Richard Wilshin agreed and said the Council had felt for some long time that there should be compulsory continuing education and that training should be mandatory to maintain registration so that optical practitioners preserve their clinical skills. The GOC also maintained that it should have additional powers to deal with some of the complaints received, and would prefer that the disciplinary process be remedial rather than confrontational, as it was at present. The GOC has put on record a number of matters which deal with points raised in Mr Dobson's letter, and will be sending a full and reasoned response to the health secretary in due course.