ACC pays out $30m more for treatment injuries

Insteadof walking away feeling better after going to the doctor, increasing numbers of patients are lodging compo claims for treatment injuries.

ACC figures show the number of people making claims as a result of botched surgeries, missed diagnosis and other complications is rising and is costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

In the past five years, the number of new claims for treatment injuries has risen each year, adding about $30 million to the total cost of ACC payouts for such injuries.

Capital & Coast District Health Board paid out $687,876 last year for a single treatment injury claim, the second highest behind one in Waikato of $699,249.

The payouts - from public and private hospitals, general practices, physiotherapy clinics and other treatment places - could cover compensation for weekly earnings, a lump sum or death benefit along with the initial treatment from a hospital and ongoing treatment or rehabilitation.

ACC would not give details of the biggest Capital & Coast payout, but spokeswoman Stephanie Melville said examples of injuries for which payouts were made in the past year included cerebral haemorrhage, oxygen depletion to the brain, Kernicterus - brain damage in newborns - and arachnoiditis - the inflammation of one of the membranes surrounding the nerves of the spinal cord, causing severe stinging, burning pain, and neurological problems.

She attributed the rise in claims to the ageing population, and to the increased awareness of possible entitlements among treatment providers and patients. "An ageing population means more people are getting treatment, which increases their exposure to risk of injury."

Andrew Connolly, chairman of the Medical Council, said the figures did not reflect an increase in incompetent medical professionals.

"Cock-ups" and "botched" surgeries did happen, but made up a very small number of treatment injury claims, he said. "The vast majority of claims arise from complications even after the medical professional has done everything right."

These included infections or an adverse reaction to a prescribed antibiotic a patient had never had before.

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ACC pays out $30m more for treatment injuries