Hospitals are being told to remove a number of advertisments featured in NHS leaflets issued to patients.
The ads, which promote ‘no win, no fee’ injury compensation deals, have been banned by the Department of Health because of the effect they have on a growing amount of people filing personal injury claims. Some trusts however are continuing to use the ads as a means for boosting revenue.
Some hospitals are paid up to £85,000 a year or offered large donations such as equiptment or uniforms to publicise the deals, which appear on information leaflets given to patients.
Simon Burns, the Health Minister, told The Times he would be writing to Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, to demand hospitals start to follow the rules.
He said, “Patients should be able to focus on getting better, without having to be hounded by lawyers or adverts displayed in A&E departments.
“I will ask David Nicholson to write to hospitals to remind them it is not acceptable to display these adverts.”
The adverts have been playing a role in the growing amount of people filing false or exagerated personal injury claims, wasting courts time and insurers money.
Since 2007, hospitals have been banned from accepting adverts from lawyers but trusts often go ahead with the ads regardless.
Andrew Bridgen, the Tory MP for North West Leicestershire, attacked the deals which he claims have fuelled the rise of Britain’s compensation culture.
“The Prime Minister talks about slaying the ‘health and safety monster’, but we’re feeding the monster and it’s going to get bigger,” he said.
The worst offenders for publishing the ads in hospital leaflets are Pro-Vision and BOE Medical Publishing.
