NHS Resolution’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2025/26, published today, shows that a record 84% of clinical negligence claims were resolved without the need for formal legal proceedings, demonstrating the impact of its ‘Resolution Through Collaboration’ strategy in its first year.
The strategy focuses on delivering fairer resolution, using data to drive learning, and strengthening NHS Resolution’s contribution to improving patient safety – particularly in maternity and neonatal care.
In line with this approach, NHS Resolution has continued to prioritise early, collaborative resolution of claims, enabling thousands of patients and families to receive answers and compensation more quickly and without the need for court proceedings.
By working collaboratively with the NHS, patients and their representatives, NHS Resolution is reducing the emotional and financial burden of litigation while sharing learning to help prevent future harm.
The report also highlights that NHS Resolution received 15,236 new clinical negligence claims and reported incidents in 2025/26, an increase on the previous year. This reflects a combination of increased NHS activity and the time lag between incidents occurring and claims being brought.
Despite growing volume and complexity, NHS Resolution continues to deliver consistently across its core services. The report notes that most business plan objectives were achieved, alongside the majority of key performance indicators.
There has also been significant external scrutiny of clinical negligence costs during the year. NHS Resolution worked closely with the National Audit Office (NAO) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and welcomes their findings, which recognised the organisation’s work to resolve claims more quickly and reduce both the financial and emotional costs associated with litigation.
NHS Resolution continues to play a unique role in supporting patient safety across the healthcare system, using its data and insight to identify risks and support improvement. During the year, it facilitated over 1,000 engagements with NHS organisations and partners, helping translate learning from claims into changes in clinical practice.
Improving maternity and neonatal safety remains a central priority and we recognise that avoidable errors in maternity and neonatal services still occur and that incidents have devastating consequences for the child, mother, and wider family, as well as the NHS staff involved.
In 2025/26 we published the evaluation of the MIS. It will be followed by the evaluation of the EN scheme in 2026/27. These evaluations provide vital insight, and we have used – and will use – their findings to help us to reform and evolve the schemes.
The organisation also continued a major programme of operational transformation through the rollout of its new case management system, CaseHub. While this has created short-term operational challenges, NHS Resolution has maintained a focus on minimising impact for patients and ensuring compensation payments were made without delay. The system will support faster, more effective claims resolution and improved data in the longer term.
We recognise the ongoing challenges across the system and we will continue to work closely with government and partners to address these issues, while remaining focused on resolving claims fairly, sharing learning, and supporting safer care across the NHS.
Helen Vernon, CEO, NHS Resolution
NHS Resolution’s Annual report and accounts for 2025/26 is now available on the corporate reports and publications page.
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