NHS to be hit harder than expected by compensation shake-up, Budget reveals

The NHS will be hit harder than expected by a controversial shake-up of personal injury compensation – forcing the Chancellor to borrow an extra £1.2bn a year.A little-noticed decision to dramatically cut the ‘discount rate’ for compensation awards, to reflect lower yields from investment bonds, first sparked controversy last month.The lower rate – 0.75 per cent, instead of 2.5 per cent - will benefit the thousands of people who suffer from medical negligence, car a