TONY Blair has declared war on ambulance-chasing law firms.

The Prime Minister warns Britain is in danger of developing a disproportionate concern about risks, thanks to hard-sell tactics of compensation firms.

His comments come a week after the Advertiser revealed national firms with offices in Swindon were targeting the A&E department at Great Western Hospital.

Bosses said as many as 400 leaflets advertising No Win No Fee services were being deposited in the busy A&E department each week.

Tighter health and safety laws have saved lives by cutting accidents and improving the environment, Mr Blair stressed.

But this has been exploited by some law firms.

The Compensation Bill, promised in the Queen's Speech, will seek to regulate firms and their sales tactics. Mr Blair believes this will discourage perceptions that compensation is available for any accident.

In his speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research in London, he said: "There should be a common-sense culture not a compensation culture. In the end, risk is inescapable."

Mr Blair used the example of school trips to support his argument.

Increasingly, teachers are growing reluctant to organise the educational outings because of the risk of legal action if anything were to go wrong.

Between seven and 10 million pupils took part in trips in England two years ago, Mr Blair said.

"Sadly, there was one fatality, but only one. Our reaction to it should not be deny children opportunities.

"If we start to believe that every possible problem must be avoided at all costs, we end up with a mindset that says nothing good should happen in case it leads to something bad.

"Irrational decisions should not be made through fear of litigation."

Chris Birdsall, spokesman for GWH, welcomed the bill.

He said: "We have gone on record as criticising companies for targeting people waiting in A&E.

"Anything that can dissuade companies from trying to make money out of people when they are vulnerable or at a low ebb is a step forward."

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust says there has been a slight reduction in the number of leaflets being deposited in A&E since the Adver highlighted the problem.

Kevin Shoesmith