NHS commissioning and integrated care systems
The financial pressures on the NHS are relentless. An ageing and increasingly demanding population combined with austerity means that commissioners need to do more with less coupled with increasing quality outcomes.
Legislative reform, structural reform and organisational reform mean officers need to be constantly attuned to the latest policy guidance.
By supporting our NHS clients through previous NHS re-organisations, coupled with an established social care practice, we have the necessary experience, expertise and commercial insight to support you through any transition.
What others say...
"All the team are very approachable and use plain English, they return calls on time and keep to schedules as defined. The use of the drop box for documents was especially helpful with large amounts of Patient identifiable information. Have started to offer good training sessions to update on case law, LPS and modernisation of the Mental Health Act."
"Fantastic knowledge and connections across and within the NHS. This helps to bring much more than just standard legal advice."
"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."
"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."
Related products, services and sectors
Key contacts
Gerard Hanratty
Partner
Charlotte Harpin
Partner
Steve Atkinson
Senior Associate
Latest insights and events
Legal Update
Utilising prime retail sites to improve the health of our nation
Opinion
Increase to 20 hour limit on supplementary employment for Health and Care Worker visa holders
Published Article
Digital Twin Technologies: key legal contractual considerations
Legal Update
LPS consultation and ‘go live’ planning
Opinion
BMA advises consultants not to accept less than the BMA minimum rate card for extra-contractual work
The BMA is advising all NHS / HSCNI consultants to ensure extra-contractual work is paid at the BMA minimum recommended rate and to decline offers of extra-contractual work that doesn't value them appropriately.
Published Article
Local authority duties: Up in the air
In ‘failure to remove’ claims, the claimant alleges abuse in the family home and asserts that the local authority should have known about the abuse and/or that they should have removed the claimant from the family home and into care earlier.
Guide
Highlights from the Health and Care Connect Conference
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Focus on emergency medicine
In our latest Shared Insights session, Focus on Emergency Medicine, chaired by Jennifer Fagin and Amelia Newbold, we were pleased to be joined by: Dr Alex Crowe, Deputy Director Incentive Schemes & Academic Partnerships, NHS Resolution and Consultant Nephrologist and Miss Susie Hewitt MBE, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
Legal Update
CCGs’ conduct “sufficiently serious” for award of damages in High Court procurement case
This case provides a reminder to contracting authorities that whilst the bar for an award of damages in procurement cases is high, following the Supreme Court ruling in Energy Solutions EU Ltd v Nuclear Decommissioning Authority [2017] 1 WLR 1373, it is not insurmountable when a contracting authority has acted with disregard to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCRs). There is also further guidance as to the use of frameworks
On-Demand
ICS Forum webinar series: What’s new for ICSs?
Presented by Gerard Hanratty, this on-demand webinar looks into the key new functions for Integrated Care Systems under the new Health & Care Act 2022. It provides a useful update on what is new, how it may be interpreted and what issues may arise.
Legal Update
Health & Care Matters newsletter - June 2022
Welcome to our latest health newsletter for Summer 2022. We have a packed edition which includes fascinating insights from clients and our own lawyers into the potential impact of the Health and Care Act 2022 and associated DHSC integration policy.
Legal Update
Community Diagnostic Centres - the opportunities
Browne Jacobson commercial health partner, Jonathan Hayden, speaks to Darren Ramen, UK head of legal at Alliance Medical about the interest surrounding Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).
Opinion
Learning from Emergency Medicine compensation claims
Every year a high number of patients attend Emergency Departments (EDs) in England, often presenting with complex and wide-ranging symptoms. Many of these challenges were explored in the Getting It Right First Time Emergency Medicine Report, published in 2021.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Safeguarding Forum. Child Safeguarding in childcare proceedings
Our speakers looked at Child Safeguarding in childcare proceedings.
On-Demand
Commissioning Health Tech in an ICS World
We invite you to watch our on-demand webinar which looks into how healthtech is commissioned from a health and tech perspective.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act: What does it mean for hospitals in the mental health and acute sector?
Our speakers looked at the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act and what it means for hospitals in the mental health and acute sector.
Legal Update
Health & Care Matters newsletter - February 2022
Welcome to our first health newsletter of 2022.
Legal Update
Covid 19 public inquiry
The start of the public inquiry into Covid-19 in the UK has moved one step closer with the appointment on December 17 2021 of Baroness Heather Hallett to chair the inquiry. The inquiry was announced in May last year and is due to start in the spring of 2022.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Mental Health in Maternity
Our speakers looked at the legal framework for maternal mental health issues, the obstetrician’s perspective & the psychiatrist’s perspective.
Legal Update
Deal activity and market update in health and social care sector
In the last nine months of 2021 we saw a huge amount of activity across all sub-sectors of health and social care.
Legal Update
What to expect at Court: Family Court and Care Proceedings
What to expect at Court: Family Court and Care Proceedings. Care Proceedings concern the welfare of a child. If a Local Authority believes that a child is at risk of significant harm, they can seek permission from the Court to take appropriate action to protect the child.
Opinion
Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Purchase v Ahmed
The Court of Appeal has given judgment on three cases where close relatives claimed compensation for psychiatric injuries suffered as a consequence of witnessing the collapse of their loved ones.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Preparing for 2022 – the big issues for legal teams across health and social care
We were delighted to be joined by Dr Nigel Sturrock, Regional Medical Director for the Midlands at NHS England and NHS Improvement. He gave an overview of the pressures placed on the NHS by the pandemic, including the impact on urgent and emergency care, elective procedures and staffing.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Safeguarding Forum - Safe discharge and conveyance of patients
It is important to bear in mind the legal framework when planning discharge and conveyance plans but practicalities are also key.
Published Article
Care Quality Commission Strategy from 2021 – Ground for Optimism but Much Still to Learn
There is much still to learn about how the strategy will be implemented and those details will play a huge part in determining the final outcome. However, there are grounds for optimism.
On-Demand
Compulsory vaccinations for frontline healthcare workers: Getting ready to meet the requirement
An on-demand webinar for HR practitioners, looking at the legal and practical implications for NHS employers of the Government’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for frontline healthcare workers.
On-Demand
Care Business Briefing - Deal activity dynamics in the healthcare sector
Join Browne Jacobson and Virgin Money for an on-demand webinar as they discussed their thoughts on the outlook for acquisition activity and funding in the health and care sectors.
Legal Update
Health & Care Matters newsletter - November 2021
Welcome to our Health Newsletter focussing on Sustainability and timed to hit your inbox as we start to consider the outcomes from COP26.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Coroners’ Question Time, part 2
The panel of experienced Coroners gave an outline of the current backlog and the pandemic recovery plan implemented in their jurisdiction.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Mental health patients: learning from incidents and inquests
Our speakers looked at themes arising from inquests, learning from participating in RCAs, the clinician’s perspective and a difficult case study.
Legal Update
Potential criminal offence for care workers to assist people with mental disorders in securing the services of sex workers
In circumstances where it is subsequently proved that an individual does have such a mental disorder, there is a presumption that their carer either knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the disorder, unless sufficient evidence is adduced to rebut that presumption.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Managing violent, abusive and racist patients
Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Helen Badger and Carl May-Smith, Partners at Browne Jacobson provided an overview of the legal frameworks in place that can assist Trusts when managing violent, abusive and racist patients
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Quarterly safeguarding forum - challenging families and best interests
In this Shared Insights session, we discuss difficulties faced by professionals when dealing with challenging family members and highlighted the legal frameworks and mechanisms that can be implemented to manage these behaviours in order to protect staff and keep the patient’s best interests at the centre of decision making.
Legal Update
Hospitals as ‘placements’ for looked after children under the age of 16
With effect from Thursday 9 September 2021 the amendments contained within the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/161) (‘the Regulations’) come into effect which introduces regulation 27A.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Implementing the Ockenden Immediate and Essential Actions for safe maternal and newborn care
In this Shared Insights session we provided an overview of the implementation of the Ockenden Immediate and Essential actions.
On-Demand
Care business briefing - a new normal?
With signs of a return to “the new normal” over the coming months, we are pleased to invite you to our on-demand webinar looking at the regulatory aspects of care
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: the future of interaction between health and social care
This session discussed the future of interaction between NHS Trusts and local government amidst a drive for better integrated care.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Learning from operating theatre claims and the challenges of service recovery post-pandemic
In this Shared Insights session, we discussed how prior to the pandemic, looking at the themes and learning arising from Operating Theatre claims between 2010 and 2020 and about the challenges faced by NHS Trusts as they seek to restore surgical and other services post-pandemic.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Safeguarding forum - chronic eating disorders
In this Shared Insights session we listen to unique perspective and learning outcomes from dealing with eating disorder patients.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Inquests: recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic
In this Shared Insights session we discussed how different Coroners are approaching recovery from the pandemic.