The number of New Zealanders who have received large ACC payouts after suffering medical treatment errors has doubled in the past decade.

Figures released to the Herald show that between January 2010 and October 2019, ACC has forked out more than $1 billion to people who were injured after botched medical treatments, misdiagnosis, post-surgery infections and reactions to medications.

The number of treatment injury claims paid by ACC has increased from 7660 in 2010 to 16,953 last year. The annual cost of these claims has ballooned from about $56m to $150m.

ACC specialist John Miller told Tim Dower in New Zealand, patients don't have the right to sue doctors if they are injured during a procedure.

He says there needs to be a better compensation scheme.