HEALTH DEPARTMENT

107 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (17 July 2012). With respect to 2012-13 Budget Paper 4, vol. 3, p. 18—

How much has the health portfolio spent in total on litigation and what range of issues have resulted in court action?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts): I am advised:

1. In 2011-12, the Department for Health and Ageing spent $8.019 million on legal costs and payment of settlements for professional indemnity (principally medical malpractice) and public liability claims. The expenditure related to claims that had been made in the 2011-12 financial year and previous financial years. All matters were settled out of court (that is no matters went to trial).

In 2010-11, the Department for Health and Ageing spent $6.592 million on legal costs and payment of settlements for professional indemnity (principally medical malpractice) and public liability claims. The expenditure related to claims that had been made in the 2010-11 financial year and previous financial years. All matters were settled out of court.

The claims were for a range of incidents including post operative implications following a procedure, failure of a procedure, obstetric complications and failure or delay in treatment.