CLINICAL negligence claims have cost NHS Highland more than £5 million in the past five years.

The cash-strapped health board, which is also at the centre of a bullying row, had to pay compensation for errors including failing to adequately monitor the first stages of labour, misdiagnosis and dispensing inappropriate drugs.

The figures, obtained under freedom of information, show that NHS Highland paid a total of £1,944,941 to 11 patients in 2017/18, the highest amount in the past five years.

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A total of 54 patients have been handed compensation payments – totalling £4,985,323 – since 2013.

The health authority also made compensation payments to around 20 employees, totalling £339,859 in the last five years.

Staff made claims relating accidents, falls, handling injuries and “violence and aggression”.

Separate freedom of information data also shows an escalating number of grievances brought against the health board by its employees.

They have climbed from fewer than five in 2013 and 10 in 2014, to a combined total of 55 for 2017 and 2018.

Highlands and Islands MSP and shadow health minister David Stewart said: “These figures leave many unanswered questions, including why compensation jumped to such a high level last year.

"The costs are extremely worrying and I will be raising them with the new NHS Highland chief executive.”

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Edward Mountain MSP added: “NHS Highland is under considerable financial pressure and I am horrified to see that in the last five years compensation claims to staff and patients has exceeded £5m."

NHS Highland is currently facing an overspend of around £19million on its £600m budget this financial year.

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A spokesman for NHS Highland said it takes adverse events "very seriously".

He added: “Any clinical or employee liability claim is investigated rigorously by solicitors acting on behalf of NHS Highland and also by staff within NHS Highland.

"Based on the outcome of this investigation, claims may be repudiated, defended or claimants may be compensated.

“The actual payouts to individual staff and patients vary hugely. Also, given small numbers of claims settled, annual variation can be quite significant – one or two high value claims can make a large difference from year to year recurring.”