Image of someone working at a desk whilst on the phone

Emergency advice 24 hour lawyer hotline for clients

The provision of health and social care is a 24 hour business. Clinicians and organisations have a legal and ethical responsibility to service users and patients under their care, whether they are in the operating theatre or confused and refusing treatment. We are committed to being available whenever our clients need us.

We provide our clients with a 24 hour helpline for access to specialist advice whenever problems arise out of hours, 365 days a year.

What we do

Out of hours advice - covering complex consent issues, patients refusing medical treatment or surgery, child protection issues to confidentiality (for example police requests for medical records), mental health queries or an urgent response to a serious health and safety, regulatory or potentially criminal incident.
Expert lawyers, whenever you need them -  our on-call team includes experts in mental capacity, mental health and making urgent medical treatment applications to Court, as well as specialists in health and safety at work and lawyers with a background in criminal / regulatory work.

Application for a court order

Making an emergency out of hours application for a Court Order permitting a trust, over a weekend, to force dialysis on a patient with a learning disability in end stage renal failure against his wishes, pending further proceedings to determine whether this would be in his best interests in the longer term.

A patient attending hospital, suspected to have a large amount of class A drugs

Providing out of hours advice on a patient attending hospital, suspected to have a large amount of class A drugs in a condom in his stomach, covering issues of confidentiality, consent to treatment and appropriate involvement of the Police.

End of life treatment

Providing urgent out of hours advice on end of life treatment, in a scenario complicated by potential criminal proceedings for assisting the patient’s apparent suicide attempt.

A criminal incident

Responding to a criminal incident in which a patient detained under the Mental Health Act absconded and assaulted a member of the public, including dealing with the Police and media issues, as well as potential liabilities.

Abuse and social care claims

Access, funding and continuing healthcare

Banking and finance for health

Clinical negligence

Corporate transactions for health

Deprivation of liberty

Employers and public liability

Employment services for healthcare

Governance for health

Health and social care disputes

Health procurement

Immigration services for healthcare

Infrastructure and developments in health

Inquests

Instant In-house for health

Integrated healthcare systems

Investigations and inquiries

Medical treatment in health

Mental health, Court of Protection, and safeguarding

NHS estates

Safety and learning in healthcare

Service reconfiguration, consultation, transformation and decommissioning

Rebecca Fitzpatrick

Partner

Chris Stark

Partner

Mark Barnett

Partner

Ed Pollard

Partner

Heather Caddy

Partner

Legal 500 2022

"Knowledge and experience in every part of healthcare. Prompt and efficient. Top tier."

Legal 500 2022

"The relationship between solicitors within the team, paralegals and other legal support and barristers on a case is extremely collaborative- more so than any other firm I work with. There is very much a team approach in conducting complex cases which is essential to benefit the client concerned."

Legal 500 2022

"I feel as though the team I work with are more like an extension of my own team, and whilst maintaining those professional boundaries, are still very approachable."

Legal 500 2022

"Every member of team goes above and beyond to support us. Technically brilliant with a down to earth and easily understandable approach. Translates the legal speak into everyday language."