THE NHS in Dorset has paid millions of pounds in negligence claims over the past five years, with some payments dating from decades ago.

The Department of Health has paid out £152 million, including legal fees, to victims of mistakes made before April 1995 in England, with hospital failings during childbirth accounting for more than two-thirds of the cost.

The bill for all types of medical negligence claims, including damages and legal fees, has risen four-fold in 10 years to £1.6 billion in 2016-17, the National Audit Office has warned

Since 2012, Poole Hospital has paid out £27.6m, of which £1.4m has gone towards historic claims - the latter figure the 33rd highest for NHS trusts across England.

Dorset County Hospital has paid out £22m over the same period, of which £328k went to pre-1995 claims.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital has paid out £12.6m, and contributed only £124k to historic claims.

Hospitals bear the brunt of claims, with other NHS services in the area paying out smaller sums overall.

Since 2012 the South Western Ambulance Service has paid out £4.7m, Dorset HealthCare £880k and Southern Health has paid out £8.3m.

The hardest hit trust nationwide was Barts Health in London, with a total bill for £123m.

An inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee in November 2017 warned that pressures on the NHS could see the litigation bill “spiralling out of control without effective action”.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We’re ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent effectively by taking action against law firms creaming off excessive legal costs that dwarf the damages recovered - but we’re also clear we want to ensure patients continue to access justice at a reasonable cost.”

Money is still being paid for historic claims due to enduring legal battles, new claims for decades-old incidents, and regular payments for patients with long-term conditions, many of whom are now living longer than ever.

While they only make up a small percentage of the total number of blunders, the cost of maternity incidents is highest as mistakes during birth can lead to brain damage and a requirement for life-long care.

A spokesman for NHS Resolution, formerly the NHS Litigation Authority, said: “Whilst thankfully, these incidents are very rare, each one offers an opportunity for learning in order to prevent the same thing happening again.

“Our recent report ‘Five years of cerebral palsy claims’ made recommendations for action which achieved wide consensus and commitment from those involved in maternity care.

“We will be offering an incentive payment of up to 10 per cent of a trust’s maternity premium for those who can show that they have implemented 10 maternity safety actions, as set out in the Maternity Safety Strategy.”