A number of hospitals have been contacting patients involved in road accidents asking them to sue for damages using a specific private claims handling firm, revealed a report.
One hospital, Barts and the London NHS Trust, allowed a private claims handling firm to advise victims in its Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, said the report.
Another hospital, The Royal Surrey County Hospital wrote to road accident victims within 48 hours of their treatment, urging them to make a personal injury claim using a firm called Angel Assistance. The Royal Surrey said it had now suspended the service.
Barts and the London Trust said: "Since early 2002 Barts and the London NHS Trust has had an arrangement with a legal advisory company to make road traffic accident patients aware of their rights to claim."
It said a clerk based in the A&E department worked under strict protocol, developed by the Trust to protect patient confidentiality, to ensure that patients were aware of their options without being pressurised.
Under the Road Traffic NHS Charges Act, if a patient wins compensation, NHS trusts can claims back treatment fees from a driver's insurance company.
The trusts said they had a duty to maximise their income. The scheme generated around £1m a year, revealed the report.
