The Welsh Assembly has launched proposals to give NHS patients more equal access to compensation and allow clinical negligence claims to be settled more easily. The NHS Redress Measure will allow lower-value negligence claims to be dealt with without going before a court. It is the first government-proposed measure to be scrutinised by the assembly under powers introduced by the Government of Wales Act.

The assembly has also issued new guidance to the NHS on screening new healthcare workers for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. All new health workers will require medical checks for tuberculosis and hepatitis B and all those new to performing 'exposure-prone procedures' that carry an increased risk of cross infection must be cleared for hepatitis C and HIV.

Click here for more information on the proposal and the screening guidance.

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