GWENT patients received more than £15 million in compensation for botched operations, treatment delays and medical mistakes over the past three years.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show a total of £76.2 million was paid out across Wales between 2008/2009 and 2010/11, with the Aneurin Bevan Health Board's share totalling £15.2 million.

In 2008/09, the health board paid out £7.5 million in compensation, which fell to £2.9 million in 2009/10. Last year it increased to £4.8 million.

An Aneurin Bevan Healthboard spokesman said: "Many thousands of patients receive high quality care in an extremely safe clinical environment within our hospitals and clinics, but despite this there will be occasions when treatment does not go according to plan, and the outcome is not what we would wish for.

"When this happens it's important that the incident is fully investigated and we learn valuable lessons for the future."

He added that the health board continually evaluates its investigation of all clinical incidents to improve the standard of care it provides.

Last year, NHS Wales launched its 1,000 Lives Plus campaign, aiming to improve the quality of patient care and reduce avoidable harm in Wales' hospitals.