After taking up the case of his constituent, Mr Laurence Ball, who had a healthy lung removed by doctors at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after a mistaken diagnosis, Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott, has called for speedy ‘no blame’ compensation for victims of health service mistakes.

Commenting on the legal battle Mr Ball now faces, in order to win compensation from NHS Grampian, Mr Scott said:

“I have been working with Mr Ball and his family to assist him in his case against NHS Grampian.

“What this case has made clear is that there is a need for a better way of handling NHS compensation cases when errors are made. NHS Grampian should not be using funding, needed to run the health service, to fight a legal battle against Mr Ball. And Mr Ball should not be forced to take legal action to get redress.

“There should instead be a speedy ‘no blame’ compensation scheme for the victims of mistakes by the health service. I shall certainly be taking this case to the Health Minister, asking her to recognise the serious flaws in the current position and urging her to introduce a fairer ‘no blame’ compensation scheme.”