NHS staff injury payouts top £1million
DONCASTER and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals shelled out £1,220,063 in direct damages to injured healthcare workers after receiving 77 claims over the past five years, according to new research.
The seven-figure sum was the largest in South Yorkshire – more than £2.6million in total has been paid out by NHS trusts based in the region according to the figures, obtained via Freedom of Information requests to NHS Resolution by Accident Claims Advice.
Data from the Liability to Third Parties Scheme – the NHS staff insurance pool – reveals that between 2020/21 and 2024/25, thousands of workers successfully sued their employers after being left injured, assaulted, or traumatised by events in the workplace.
As of April 2026, the data shows that the total cost of workplace injury claims across the whole of England surpassed £190m between 2020/21 and 2024/25.
DBTH runs hospitals including Montagu Hospital in Mexborough and Doncaster Royal infirmary.
Meanwhile, another trust covering the Dearne Valley – Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust – paid £115,099, having received 31 claims.
Nationally, over the five-year period, University Hospitals Birmingham registered the highest volume of staff injury claims with 210 and a £2,570,672 total payout in damages.
Slips and trips are the leading cause of staff injury nationally, while frontline staff members who were victims of assault in the workplace took the second spot.
Commenting on the national data, Patrick Mallon, head of workplace accident claims at Accident Claims Advice, said: "Hospitals and healthcare facilities should be environments of safety and healing, but this data shows an alarming reality for the people keeping our health service afloat.
“To see more than 1,000 healthcare workers sue the NHS after being assaulted or falling on the job points to a systemic failure of basic workplace protection.”
A spokesperson from Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), said: “Any incident where a colleague is hurt at work is deeply regrettable, and we recognise the impact this can have on individuals and teams.
"We continue to invest in support and training across our hospitals, alongside measures aimed at reducing workplace injuries, improving the working environment for colleagues, and strengthening our overall safety culture.
“As a result of this ongoing work, reported health and safety incidents across the organisation have fallen year-on-year since 2023/24.
“In 2025, the trust also retained a Gold Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), which recognises organisations who are able to demonstrate strong safety processes, effective training, robust reporting systems, and a proactive approach to reducing risk and learning from incidents.”
RDaSH did not respond to the Weekender's request for a comment.