New scheme for compensation cases planned

The Government has published a consultation document on draft legislation to implement a scheme for the recovery of health services costs in compensation cases.

Health Minister Angela Smith said the intention was to bring forward new primary legislation to provide for implementation of a new scheme to recover health services costs in cases where people are paid compensation.

"I am, therefore, publishing for consultation, a proposal for a draft Recovery of Health Services Charges Order in Council, which will make the necessary legislative changes," the Minister said. "It will be accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum. The documents will be distributed to a wide range of interests, with an invitation to comment. I hope that recipients will study them carefully."

The new scheme will allow the recovery from those who pay personal injury compensation, mainly insurance companies, the costs of the hospital treatment and ambulance services for people injured in accidents who go on to make successful claims for such compensation.

The costs will not be paid by the casualty and will not affect their compensation. The new scheme will represent the extension of a successful existing scheme, where the hospital treatment costs of people injured in road traffic accidents are recovered.

Referring to the fact that the legislation is similar to legislation already on the Statute Book in Great Britain the Minister added: "The new recovery scheme is scheduled to come into operation throughout Great Britain next April and it is my intention to have a similar one in operation in Northern Ireland about six months later."

(MB)