BARNSLEY hospital was stung with almost £1.7m worth of compensation payouts and legal fees last year.
The money went to both patients and staff, the total cost was an increase of £138,000 on the previous year and more than double the total for 2003 to 2004.
In 2005 to 2006 there were 21 clinical negligence claims and 26 personal injury claims, £927,000 was paid out in damages and £755,000 on legal fees.
The year before saw 28 negligence and 42 injury claims costing £805,000 in damages and £738,617 in legal fees.
This year the hospital will have to hand over £2m to the NHS Litigation Authority in anticipation of claims.
In three years there has been 156 compensation awards at a total cost of £4m — included in the sums are £959,000 worth of claims lodged before 1995.
A hospital spokesman said: “All hospitals must pay an annual premium to the NHS Litigation Authority, in the same way people pay a premium for their car or house insurance. Our costs , which compare favourably with other hospitals, are calculated based on a number of factors such as previous claims made, the type and breadth of services at the hospital and our annual income.”
She added that the hospital was committed to offering high standards of care and continually looked at ways to improve the safety of our patients and staff.
