NHS Litigation Authority mediation pilot role for CEDR

The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) has landed a plum role in a new NHS litigation authority (NHS LA) pilot scheme, which will use mediation to resolve patient disputes.

CEDR chief executive, Dr Karl Mackie CBE, says the new scheme—which CEDR helped develop and will play a key role in delivering—“must count as one of most important in the UK and has real potential to revolutionise the way in which disputes with the NHS are resolved”.

The service aims to encourage patients, families and NHS staff to work together to resolve claims where the patient and their families believe NHS care was below standard. NHS LA will offer mediation under the pilot for all suitable claims involving a fatality (infant or elderly), or the care of the elderly. 

The mediations will be conducted by independent CEDR accredited mediators. Once the parties agree to refer the matter to mediation, CEDR will offer the claimant a choice of CEDR mediators from its panel. The selected CEDR mediator will contact the parties by telephone to obtain background information, while CEDR dispute resolution advisors will assist the parties and the mediator throughout the process. 

The process is confidential and if a resolution is reached, a binding agreement is drawn up and signed. If agreement cannot be agreed, the claim can still be pursued through the court system. 

NHS LA chief executive, Catherine Dixon, says: “We hope [the scheme] will help patients, their families and NHS staff resolve concerns quickly and cost effectively, while also enabling all the parties to meet to have their say without the need to go to court. We are excited about this important new service and hope that it be embraced by the NHS, patients and their families as a truly effective way of resolving claims in the NHS.”

All suitable claims will be considered on a case by case basis by NHS LA. All queries regarding the service and the mediation of any potential cases should be addressed to Julienne Vernon, head of claims-quality. For more information visit here.