SCIL is actively opposing and campaigning against the government’s fixed recoverable cost (FRC) proposals.

 

— Improve patient safety and learnings
— Support innocent victims

— Reform the redress system for victims

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The executive team has participated constructively in discussions with the Civil Justice Council, Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice, and have been encouraging the government to consider a realistic alternative to FRC – the SCIL Scheme. 

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SCIL has consistently argued that the FRC proposals are fundamentally flawed, they misunderstand the nature of the Clinical Injury Compensation Scheme and don’t prioritise learning and patient safety.  

 

The SCIL Scheme was put forward and we believe this approach will not only reduce legal costs and speed up decisions, but it will also achieve the holy grail of learning lessons to avoid mistakes as much as is possible.  

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The SCIL Scheme proposals focus on fixing the problems with the mindset and procedure of handling clinical negligence claims by the NHS Resolution. 

The Government has now published its long-awaited consultation on the introduction of Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC) in lower value clinical negligence claims  (<£25k). 

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At SCIL we fear that the introduction of FRC may deny victims of clinical injury access to specialist advice and see no change in an NHS legal culture described by Lord Edward Garnier - a leading Lawyer and Member of The House of Lords - as 'deny, defend, delay'.

 

SCIL is actively advocating a realistic alternative to a government proposal to introduce fixed recoverable costs (FRC), which we believe could reduce legal costs, speed up decisions and achieve the holy grail of learning lessons to avoid mistakes as much as is possible.

 

The SCIL Scheme proposals focus on fixing the problems with the mindset and procedure of handling clinical negligence claims by the NHS Resolution. We believe that the problems of clinical negligence should be tackled at the source not by tinkering with the legal system.
 
We are active in assisting our members in dealing with the implementation of the proposed government reforms since the abolition of Legal Aid for clinical negligence investigations (save for the exception for children injured at birth) and the impact that those reforms may have on access to justice. 

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Above all, we believe that patient safety must be at the centre of the Government's mission for the NHS and all health care.

 

If you would like to support our campaign you can do so by writing to your Member of Parliament and to The Health Secretary and The Lord Chancellor.