New data has revealed a significant rise in clinical negligence claims related to accident and emergency (A&E) departments across England, with claims increasing by 41% over the last five years. The figures highlight the human and financial cost of diagnostic failures, including a case that has left a 32-year-old man with life-changing paralysis.
The national trend involves University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which paid £61.8 million in clinical negligence costs in 2024/25.
The Case of Oli Coppock
The human impact of A&E diagnostic failures is exemplified by the case of Oli Coppock. In May 2024, the 32-year-old visited Warrington Hospital complaining of severe headaches. Despite Mr Coppock having a documented medical history of a brain tumour, he was discharged from the department without receiving a brain scan.
Following his discharge, Mr Coppock’s condition deteriorated significantly. He has been left with partial locked-in syndrome and near-complete paralysis. His family has expressed that the hospital “did not get the basics right,” leading to a situation where his life has been “ruined” at a young age.
Rising Claims and Financial Pressures
According to the latest NHS Resolution annual report and accounts, the scale of clinical negligence across the health service is growing. During the 2025/26 financial year, NHS Resolution received 15,236 new clinical negligence claims and incidents nationwide. The estimated total value of these new claims is approximately £7.46 billion.
Local Impact in West Sussex
The financial burden of these claims is felt by NHS providers. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust paid £61.8 million in clinical negligence costs in 2024/25.
The £61.8 million paid out by the trust reflects the high cost of complex claims, which often involve long-term care requirements for patients who have suffered avoidable harm. Nationally, the 41% rise in A&E-specific claims over five years points to sustained pressure on frontline diagnostic services.
Patients who believe they have received substandard care or have been affected by a misdiagnosis are advised by NHS Resolution to seek information through trust-specific factsheets or to engage with the formal NHS complaints procedure as a first step. Specialist legal support is often utilised in cases involving long-term disability or complex medical histories.
