South West
NHS clinical negligence statistics for the South West region
20
NHS trusts
237,180
Claims received
£56.9B
Total paid
£240K
Avg per claim
NHS negligence in South West?
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National Claims Are at Record Levels
NHS negligence payments have grown 5.3x since 2006/07. South West accounts for 1847% of the 2024/25 national total of £3.1B.
South West total
£56.9B
237,180 claims in 2024/25
National total
£3.1B
5.3x growth since 2006/07
Region's share
1847%
Of national negligence payments
South West vs National Average
South West per trust
£2.8B
National per trust
£13.3M
+21300%above national average
South West per claim
£240K
National per claim
£240K
0%below national average
Types of Clinical Negligence Claims
NHS negligence claims span 20 medical specialties nationally. These are the 2024/25 figures — trusts in South West handle claims across these categories.
#1Obstetrics CP/BDcerebral palsy & brain damage — e.g. birth injuries causing permanent disability
£1.1B36.1%
cerebral palsy & brain damage — e.g. birth injuries causing permanent disability
#2Othere.g. physiotherapy injuries, dietetics errors, pharmacy dispensing mistakes
£461.6M15.0%
e.g. physiotherapy injuries, dietetics errors, pharmacy dispensing mistakes
#3Emergency Medicinee.g. misdiagnosis in A&E, delayed treatment, triage failures
£249.7M8.1%
e.g. misdiagnosis in A&E, delayed treatment, triage failures
#4Paediatricse.g. missed meningitis, delayed diagnosis, medication dosing errors
£210.8M6.8%
e.g. missed meningitis, delayed diagnosis, medication dosing errors
#5Orthopaedic Surgerye.g. failed joint replacements, fracture mismanagement, nerve damage
£178.6M5.8%
e.g. failed joint replacements, fracture mismanagement, nerve damage
#6Obstetrics Non CP/BDother obstetric claims — e.g. surgical errors during delivery, maternal injuries
£176.0M5.7%
other obstetric claims — e.g. surgical errors during delivery, maternal injuries
#7General surgery£104.1M3.4%
#8Neurosurgerye.g. spinal surgery errors, nerve damage, post-operative complications
£77.1M2.5%
e.g. spinal surgery errors, nerve damage, post-operative complications
#9Radiologye.g. missed findings on scans, delayed cancer diagnosis, reporting errors
£71.9M2.3%
e.g. missed findings on scans, delayed cancer diagnosis, reporting errors
#10Gynaecologye.g. surgical complications, missed cancer diagnoses, fertility treatment errors
£67.0M2.2%
e.g. surgical complications, missed cancer diagnoses, fertility treatment errors
#11General medicine£64.8M2.1%
#12Psychiatry/ Mental Health£55.8M1.8%
Total payments
£55.8M
Claims settled
237
Avg per claim
£132K
#13Gastroenterologye.g. missed bowel cancer, endoscopy perforations, delayed diagnosis
£41.5M1.3%
e.g. missed bowel cancer, endoscopy perforations, delayed diagnosis
#14Ophthalmologye.g. cataract surgery errors, missed glaucoma, delayed treatment
£37.1M1.2%
e.g. cataract surgery errors, missed glaucoma, delayed treatment
#15Neurologye.g. missed stroke, delayed brain tumour diagnosis, epilepsy mismanagement
£37.0M1.2%
e.g. missed stroke, delayed brain tumour diagnosis, epilepsy mismanagement
#16Neonatology CP/BDnewborn cerebral palsy & brain damage — e.g. oxygen deprivation at birth
£31.0M1.0%
newborn cerebral palsy & brain damage — e.g. oxygen deprivation at birth
#17Cardiologye.g. missed heart attacks, stent complications, delayed diagnosis
£31.0M1.0%
e.g. missed heart attacks, stent complications, delayed diagnosis
#18Urologye.g. delayed cancer diagnosis, surgical nerve damage, catheter injuries
£29.2M0.9%
e.g. delayed cancer diagnosis, surgical nerve damage, catheter injuries
#19Ambulancee.g. delayed response, incorrect triage, treatment errors en route
£27.1M0.9%
e.g. delayed response, incorrect triage, treatment errors en route
#20Neonatology Non CP/BDother newborn claims — e.g. infections, feeding injuries, delayed treatment
£16.0M0.5%
other newborn claims — e.g. infections, feeding injuries, delayed treatment
Trusts Ranked by Total Payments
All 20 NHS trusts in South West, ranked by total negligence payments in 2024/25.
| 1 | £2.8B | |
| 2 | £2.8B | |
| 3 | £2.8B | |
| 4 | £2.8B | |
| 5 | £2.8B | |
| 6 | £2.8B | |
| 7 | £2.8B | |
| 8 | £2.8B | |
| 9 | £2.8B | |
| 10 | £2.8B | |
| 11 | £2.8B | |
| 12 | £2.8B | |
| 13 | £2.8B | |
| 14 | £2.8B | |
| 15 | £2.8B | |
| 16 | £2.8B | |
| 17 | £2.8B | |
| 18 | £2.8B | |
| 19 | £2.8B | |
| 20 | £2.8B |
Maternity Trusts in South West
13 of 20 trusts in South West provide maternity services.
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
North Bristol NHS Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£2.8B
11,859 claims · 2024/25
All Regions by Total Payments
Source: NHS Resolution Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25. Data covers the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST), Existing Liabilities Scheme (ELS), and Risk Pooling Scheme for Trusts (RPST). This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.