Cardiff to run pilot mediation schemes

The court system in Cardiff is to be used as the basis of two pilot mediation schemes for clinical negligence claims, the Welsh Assembly has announced.

Small-to-medium-sized claims will be dealt with by a fast-track system away from the courts, while larger claims will be dealt with in a court room but based on mediation.

The system will apply only to Wales, and there are hopes it could be in operation not long after details have been agreed in September.

Welsh health minister Jane Hutt said: 'We expect to start up with two pilots, and we hope they will lead to the development of a more responsive, patient-focused approach to the handling of claims, which will in turn be more closely tailored to an individual patient's needs.'

Ms Hutt pointed out that the emphasis on swift resolution of claims would help address the spiralling cost of resolving claims, which has increased from 20 million in 1999-2000, to more than 50 million two years later - of which 7 million went to lawyers and their expert witnesses.

The working party established by the assembly to hammer out details and implement the two schemes is about to hold its first meeting under the chairmanship of assembly Counsel-General Winston Roddick.

Judge Graham Jones, civil circuit judge for south and west Wales, has agreed to Cardiff being the base for the pilot.

Clive Betts