Our ref: DE00000415264

Dear Ms Bennett,

Thank you for your email of 19 May to the Department of Health about the NHS Redress Scheme.

The intention of the NHS Redress Act is to improve the system for handling and responding to clinical negligence claims by providing for the establishment of a scheme to enable settlement, without the need to commence court proceedings, of certain claims which arise in connection with hospital services.  Under this Act, a scheme may only apply to cases involving tort, which is in law a civil wrong arising from an act or failure to act for which an action for personal injury or property damages may be brought.

It would not be for the Department of Health to introduce mechanisms through either legislation or otherwise for a compensatory/redress scheme for deliberate criminal acts which would be subject to criminal court proceedings.

Yours sincerely,

David Wilson
Customer Service Centre
Department of Health