The insurance premium that the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust (PCT) pays to defend itself against legal action from patients is the highest in the UK.
The figure – £1.6 million pounds in the year 2009-2010 – is over 50% more than the next highest area, Wiltshire PCT, which pays just under one million pounds.
Wiltshire PCT has three times the population of the Island with nearly 450,000 people vs around 140k on the Island.
Elsewhere
The next highest premium is Devon PCT’s, at just over half a million pounds – around 50% less than Wiltshire.
The population of Devon is nearly 750k people – five times that of the Island.
We contacted the Island’s PCT, who told VentnorBlog
Unlike any other PCT in the country, the Island’s NHS incorporates multiple services including Acute, Maternity, Ambulance, Mental Health and Community. No other PCT requires this level of cover and therefore contributions paid by NHS Isle of Wight to the NHS Litigation Authority are likely to be higher.
It is important to take this into account when reviewing our data against other NHS organisations.
Image: Christopher Isherwood under CC BY 2.0
