RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation (NPE) processes compensation claims from patients who believe that they have sustained injuries during treatment in the health services. The number of cases reported to NPE has tended to increase in recent years. The purpose of this study was to obtain an overview of patient-reported injuries within the regular GP scheme. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied all injuries to patients within the regular GP scheme in NPE in the years 2011-17. The cases of injury contained information on age, sex, diagnosis, location of the injury and compensation paid, as well as texts describing the treatment and injury. RESULTS: Out of a total of 33 748 compensation claims submitted to NPE, 3 135 cases originated from the regular GP scheme. Of the group of claimants 53 % were women, and the average age was 44.7 years (standard deviation 17.7 years). Altogether 760 (24 %) of the cases were upheld. Diagnostic error was the reason for 553 (73 %) of the cases being upheld. The groups most frequently represented were 'tumours and cancers' (847 (27 %) of the claims) and 'orthopaedics' (592 (19 %) of the claims). INTERPRETATION: The regular GP scheme accounts for many patient contacts, and a review of patient injuries may make it possible to prevent future failures.
