Obstetrics, accident and emergency, and general surgery were the
areas of clinical practice most frequently recorded in medical
indemnity claims in the public sector between July 2003 and June
2004, according to a report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Medical Indemnity National Data Collection: Public Sector
2003 to 2004 examined nearly 5,000 current and finalised
claims in the public sector. It is the first national report on
medical indemnity claims covering a full financial year. A report,
combining public and private sector medical indemnity claims data,
is planned for release in 2006.
The report shows that, in 2003-04 there were 825 public sector
obstetrics claims current during the reported period, which
accounted for 17% of all claims. Accident and emergency accounted
for 710 claims (14%), general surgery 561 claims (11%), and
gynaecology 414 claims (8%).
Of all of the claims examined, 5% fell into the reserve range of
greater than $500,000. (A reserve range is the estimated size of
the claim, recorded in broad dollar ranges). Paediatrics was the
area which had the greatest proportion of current claims with a
reserve range of greater than $500,000 (14%). Just over half, or
52%, of all current claims had a reserve range of less than
$30,000.
AIHW spokesperson Ros Madden said that it was important to note
that these were public sector results, and that 'at this stage we
don't know whether the private sector will show a similar or very
different pattern with respect to claims'.
'Secondly, we want to point out that the report represents a
profile of medical indemnity claims data only-fault or negligence
on the part of the health care provider is not necessarily
established'.
The AIHW report was based on a new data collection developed in
cooperation with all Australian Health Authorities. A working group
was convened following recognition by Health Ministers in 2002 that
a 'national database for medical negligence claims' should be
established, to assist in determining future medical indemnity
strategies.
Ms Madden said that the data collection arose in the broader
context of national policy concern related to health care
litigation, associated costs, and the financial viability of
private sector medical indemnity insurers.
A benefit of the data collection is that it can inform clinical
risk management reviews and ultimately improve quality outcomes in
health care services to the community.
'To date, the absence of national data has made it difficult to
analyse trends in the number, nature and cost of medical indemnity
claims. But, thanks to the cooperation of all parties on this
project, we are well on the way'.
Other findings of the report include:
- Out of 860 finalised claims as at 30 June 2004, 340 (or 40%)
were settled out of court. Only 48 finalised claims were settled by
court decision.
- Over half of all finalised claims had either no payment made or
a payment of less than $10,000.
- Women represented 58% of all claims involving adults, and were
relatively more likely to be involved in procedural-related
incidents (66% of the 1,192 claims in this category).
29 July 2005
Further information: Ms Ros Madden, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1189, or 0407 915 851
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Medical Indemnity National
Data Collection: Public Sector 2003 to 2004