MEDICAL failings in the care of pregnant women in Northern has led to more than £50 million in compensation being paid out by the health service.
Negligence in the treatment of A&E patients and and those receiving orthopaedic surgery such as hip and knee replacements also contributed to a multi-million bill, with more than half the cases first lodged over five years ago.
The latest Department of Health figures revealed that £94 million has been paid out in relation to more than 3,600 cases "which were open at any stage" during 2016/17.
Solicitors and other legal representatives received a quarter of the compensation, at just over £24m.
Of the 'open' claims, 106 cases dated back more than 25 years.
The report noted: "Over half of all clinical/social care negligence cases related to four specialties; Obstetrics, Accident & Emergency, General Surgery and Trauma and Orthopaedics.
"In 2016/17, 667 new cases were opened, 632 cases were closed, whilst 2,769 cases remained open and 246 cases had been settled at 31 March 2017.
"The average clinical/social care negligence case, open in 2016/17, had been open for 2.6 years, similar to 2015/16."
An audit report carried out two years exposed a culture of staff failing to report medical mistakes due to a "blame culture".
Examining mistakes in an A&E setting, the watchdog report said it was crucial that all incidents in which there are concerns about treatment are reported to avoid patients being harmed in the future.
