Clinical negligence
First rate healthcare is the primary objective for all health providers. But if patients are dissatisfied and claims are brought, this can be a source of great stress for everyone involved. We understand the challenges you face and provide expert but pragmatic solutions, resolving claims quickly, efficiently and sensitively. We act for NHS and private providers (and their insurers and indemnifiers) across England and have been members of the NHS Resolution and MPS panels for many years.
Our expertise
The Adult Neurological Injuries team specialises in managing spinal cord and brain injury claims on behalf of NHS health care providers, individual clinicians and insurers. We deal exclusively with adult neurological injuries and have oversight of a substantial portfolio of claims. We are uniquely positioned to understand, and solve, our clients’ most important problems.
Our exclusive focus allows us to understand thematic issues affecting regional areas, identify learning opportunities and deliver focused training. We draw on our specialist knowledge, and extensive network of contacts, to resolve claims promptly. We provide clear strategic advice, and solutions, in adult neurological injury claims.
- We offer a full range of legal services to NHS health care providers, individual clinicians and insurers
- We have a team of 8 lawyers dealing exclusively with adult neurological injury claims
- We offer a tailored service, with specialist lawyers based in Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham and Manchester
- We undertake thematic reviews and identify learning opportunities for our clients
- We deliver focused best practice training
- We have an unparalleled understanding of the unique pressures facing neurosurgical and spinal orthopaedic clinicians
- Relevant insurance cover can be arranged for clinicians via a number of specialist insurance brokers
- We offer medico legal training for neurosurgical and spinal orthopaedic clinicians
Our dedicated dental negligence team deals with claims arising from a range of dental specialties, including general dentistry, conservative dentistry and endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery. We have many years’ experience advising on such claims and have been a key advisor to one of our clients on vicarious liability and non-delegable duty of care, which have been at the forefront of all practice owners’ minds as well as changing the scope of insurance and indemnity.
We have a dedicated maternity team, which specialises in obstetric claims and related issues. We have more than 25 years’ experience in dealing with claims and investigations involving cerebral palsy and maternal and baby deaths. We also represent diagnostic ultrasound providers and independent midwives. Our team has been working closely with a number of healthcare providers to support their implementation of the Ockenden recommendations.
Through our position as a leading defendant clinical negligence firm we have significant experience in conducting sensitive investigations to help maternity services resolve concerns and disputes fairly as well as triangulating claims, incidents and complaints data to identify themes and areas of focus for improvement work.
Our work spans many different areas. Some of our services that may interest you include:
- Incidents, complaints, inquests and claims
- Governance and regulatory
- Inquiries and investigations
- Employment and workforce
- Training and events.
Our specialist mental health claims team deals with claims and investigations involving NHS mental health Trusts and private providers and prisons. Many of the claims we deal with are high profile and extremely sensitive. We also represent therapists and learning disability providers on a range of issues.
The Adult Neurological Injuries team specialises in managing spinal cord and brain injury claims on behalf of NHS health care providers, individual clinicians and insurers. We deal exclusively with adult neurological injuries and have oversight of a substantial portfolio of claims. We are uniquely positioned to understand, and solve, our clients’ most important problems.
Our exclusive focus allows us to understand thematic issues affecting regional areas, identify learning opportunities and deliver focused training. We draw on our specialist knowledge, and extensive network of contacts, to resolve claims promptly. We provide clear strategic advice, and solutions, in adult neurological injury claims.
- We offer a full range of legal services to NHS health care providers, individual clinicians and insurers
- We have a team of 8 lawyers dealing exclusively with adult neurological injury claims
- We offer a tailored service, with specialist lawyers based in Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham and Manchester
- We undertake thematic reviews and identify learning opportunities for our clients
- We deliver focused best practice training
- We have an unparalleled understanding of the unique pressures facing neurosurgical and spinal orthopaedic clinicians
- Relevant insurance cover can be arranged for clinicians via a number of specialist insurance brokers
- We offer medico legal training for neurosurgical and spinal orthopaedic clinicians
Our dedicated dental negligence team deals with claims arising from a range of dental specialties, including general dentistry, conservative dentistry and endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery. We have many years’ experience advising on such claims and have been a key advisor to one of our clients on vicarious liability and non-delegable duty of care, which have been at the forefront of all practice owners’ minds as well as changing the scope of insurance and indemnity.
We have a dedicated maternity team, which specialises in obstetric claims and related issues. We have more than 25 years’ experience in dealing with claims and investigations involving cerebral palsy and maternal and baby deaths. We also represent diagnostic ultrasound providers and independent midwives. Our team has been working closely with a number of healthcare providers to support their implementation of the Ockenden recommendations.
Through our position as a leading defendant clinical negligence firm we have significant experience in conducting sensitive investigations to help maternity services resolve concerns and disputes fairly as well as triangulating claims, incidents and complaints data to identify themes and areas of focus for improvement work.
Our work spans many different areas. Some of our services that may interest you include:
- Incidents, complaints, inquests and claims
- Governance and regulatory
- Inquiries and investigations
- Employment and workforce
- Training and events.
Our specialist mental health claims team deals with claims and investigations involving NHS mental health Trusts and private providers and prisons. Many of the claims we deal with are high profile and extremely sensitive. We also represent therapists and learning disability providers on a range of issues.
Featured experience
Fraud
Reported cases include Elder v George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, where we established that the Claimant’s claim for £2.3m was “fundamentally dishonest”, subsequently obtaining a contempt of court conviction against her, which received much media coverage. We also represented the Defendant surgeon in Payne v Simpson, where a fundamental dishonesty finding was upheld on appeal.
Testimonials
"You seem to have grasped the salient features of this complex case well … and in only two weeks of work! Genuinely I am impressed."
“Thank you so much for … everything you and your team have done to achieve success in this case. Your tireless efforts and work are an inspiration … I would like to thank you for your "personal touch" to the case, your support and understanding.”
“In the wholly unexpected and very fast moving developments during last week - you had to take on board an exceptional turn of events which I suspect most lawyers will never encounter during their career. From my perspective, your support and understanding of the changing landscape was both reassuring and a clear indication of your abilities...”
Key contacts
Lorna Hardman
Partner
Ian Long
Partner
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Training
Mock inquest training course
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Maternity mock inquest - film 1
Consent is often a key issue in obstetric claims and if it is relevant to the facts of the death, its likely to be an area explored by a coroner.
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Maternity mock inquest - film 2
This video illustrates some of the issues that can arise when a witness is poorly prepared.
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Maternity mock inquest - film 3
This film highlights the importance of creating an open and transparent culture where staff feel able to speak up will help Trusts to identify problematic practise before significant issues arise.
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Health and care newsletter - October 2020
This health newsletter talks about the focuses on topics relevant to the resolution of healthcare disputes.
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Claims arising from death – recent developments and a refresher
In this article we explore some recent changes to claims arising from death and provide a brief refresher on how these are calculated.
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Relationships with patients and their representatives
As a national law firm, Browne Jacobson works with healthcare organisations across the country, helping resolve patients’ disputes efficiently, fairly and with integrity.
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In conversation with...Sian Brown: NHS Resolution’s Early Notification Scheme
Sian Brown is one of Browne Jacobson’s Partners and the head of the Early Notification Team. Find out more about Sian here.