NHS ‘to recover millions’ in insurance claims

The government has announced that new laws regarding the reclamation of money for the treatment of those who have been paid personal injury compensation could result in over 150 million pounds being recovered by the health service.

It reports that the NHS Injury Costs Recover scheme will enable the NHS to recover costs from insurance companies for the treatment of patients in receipt of personal injury compensation payments.

Andy Burnham, minister of state for delivery and reform, said: “Although his scheme will undeniably raise useful additional sums of money for hospitals it is not simply about raising more cash.

“It is based on the legal rights of the NHS and the responsibilities of those to blame.”

He added that it was hoped that the cost recovery scheme would result in an improved attitude from employers regarding protecting the health and safety of workers, while noting the scheme would not require the introduction of further regulation, being based on the existing scheme for cost recovery following road traffic accidents.

The government initiated consultation regarding draft regulations for the costs recovery scheme in September 2004, while noting that the current RTA scheme currently annually reclaims approximately 105 million pounds for the health service.