Group warns of outcry.

George Pauza says there is “no chance” Bundaberg Base Hospital patients will be made to contribute more than $3000 in legal costs while settling compensation claims with the state government.

“If that happens there will be such an outcry you will hear it all over the country,” Mr Pauza said.

Solicitors Carter Capner partner Ian Brown said the government’s offer to provide $3300 in legal costs for the patients’ compensation process was “wholly inappropriate” and would not cover the firm’s costs during the period.

Mr Brown told the Bundaberg Hospital Patient Support Group meeting on Thursday night patients may have to pay more than twice the amount offered to be represented by Carter Capner unless the government increased their offer.

“What it means is that in most cases people will have to pay for their own legal costs,” Mr Brown said.

“If they are going to offer a ridiculous amount in regards to legal costs what do you think that means for your compensation?”

Mr Brown said independent cost assessors hired by the firm had found a more appropriate figure was at least twice – and more likely three times – the size of the government’s offer.

He said the firm would continue to negotiate with the government on the funding issue so patients would be able to afford to be represented by barristers.

But a spokesman for the Attorney General said the fee offer would not be increased.

“We think they are quire reasonable fees,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile Mr Brown said he was relieved to hear the Queensland Government would pay $280,184.55 in outstanding legal fees to his firm for representing Bundaberg Base Hospital victims at the Commission of Inquiry.

The Carter Capner partner told the meeting he and his firm had not received “one penny” from the government for representing the victims at the enquiry over the past five months.

But a spokesman for Attorney General Linda Lavarch said yesterday she was expected to sign off on invoices for $280,184.55 in Carter Capner legal fees early next week.

[img blurb] Solicitor Ian Brown, surreounded by a media scrum after an inquiry hearing, told the Bundaberg Hospital Patient Support Group the government’s offer on costs is not enough during a meeting on Thursday night.