Negligence move welcomed

Sinn Fin’s John O’Dowd welcomed Health Minister Michael McGimpsey’s plans, which came in a debate brought forward by Sinn Fin calling for a more efficient and compassionate approach to such cases.

Mr O’ Dowd said: “While I welcome the announcement by the Minister that a review of outstanding cases of 10 years or more will happen I am still concerned that the Minister has failed to produce the full cost to the public purse of the delay in medical negligence cases.

“Despite the Minister referring to costs being managed and kept to a minimum the Minster has only produced costing for legal fees for this last two years which amounted to 2m. However, the cost for the previous years, decade in some cases, have not been produced with the Minister stating in response to a written question that they were unavailable.

"This is a totally unacceptable state of affairs.

“The Minister needs to be transparent with the Assembly and the public on this matter and release the cost of legal fees for medical negligence cases being delayed for 15 and 20 years without further delay."