UK Clinical Negligence Market Report 2026

The 9th annual edition of this report published in September 2026 (44 page PDF report).

Report Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. 5

Introduction. 5

Total legal revenue estimated to have grown by 7.4% in 2025/26. 5

Number of claims settled slipped in the latest year. 5

NHS spending on claims continues to grow.. 5

Claims going to trial or proceedings fall for the fifth year running. 6

Long-term market growth expected. 6

Introduction. 7

Overview. 7

Two types of damage payments. 7

Lump sum payment and the PIDR. 8

Provisions. 8

MARKET STRUCTURE. 9

Four main market participants. 9

Clinical negligence indemnity/insurance cover. 10

Damages Claims Service. 11

MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND DRIVERS. 12

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on clinical negligence costs . 12

April 2026 government response to the PAC report. 13

National Audit Office investigation into clinical negligence costs. 13

More scrutiny of clinical negligence claims and costs. 14

Supreme Court recognises lost years compensation for child claimants. 15

The Amos review of NHS maternity services identifies systematic failures. 15

Report highlights liability risks for clinicians using AI tools. 16

Emergency medicine & orthopaedic surgery lead claim numbers. 1 7

Average claimant legal costs increasing for claims up to £25,000. 18

Percentage of cases leading to legal proceedings continues to fall. 21

Mediation numbers increase in latest year. 22

THE KEY PLAYERS. 23

Main claimant legal advisers. 23

Main defendant legal advisers. 24

M&A Activity. 25

Selected Law Firm Profiles. 25

Bevan Brittan. 25

Bolt Burdon Kemp. 26

Browne Jacobson. 26

Capsticks. 26

Clyde & Co. 26

DAC Beachcroft. 27

DWF Law. 27

Enable Law. 27

Fieldfisher. 27

Fletchers. 27

Gadsby Wicks. 28

Hempsons. 28

Hill Dickinson. 29

JMW Solicitors. 29

Irwin Mitchell. 29

Kennedys Law. 29

Leigh Day. 30

Penningtons Manches Cooper. 30

Simpson Millar. 31

Slater & Gordon UK. 31

Stewarts Law. 31

Switalskis Solicitors. 31

Thompsons. 32

Weightmans. 32

MARKET SIZE AND TRENDS. 32

Volume of cases registered increase but claims settled drop at the CRU. 32

NHS Resolution claims reported continue to grow but big drop in claims closed. 35

Damages paid and legal costs increase for third year running. 36

Medical Protection Society (MPS). 37

Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS). 38

Medical Defence Union (MDU). 38

Medical Defence Shield (MDS). 39

Medical Defence Society. 39

Pharmacists Defence Association. 39

Other medical malpractice insurance and indemnity providers. 40

Clinical negligence legal revenue growth of 7.4% to over £1.8bn. 40

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. 41

Increases in both claims registered and settled expected. 41

Associations. 43