Our large primary care group serves clients including integrated care boards, primary care and PCN providers, national NHS bodies and devolved governments. We support on the full range of primary care law matters across primary medical, primary dental, ophthalmology and pharmacy, ranging from responding to ad-hoc contractual queries, advising on procurements and contract negotiations, supporting practice mergers and acquisitions, advising on employment and real estate issues/developments, through to national projects advising on emerging policy and legislative drafting.
Our knowledge has been built up through our significant work on primary care matters (some of our team have 20 years’ experience of advising in this area) and by our involvement in national, high-profile work influencing national commissioning arrangements.
Core areas of support across the range of clients are as follows:
"Browne Jacobson’s health Team can always be relied upon for support through difficult issues which sometimes arise, and they work towards the best resolution quickly."
"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."
"Browne Jacobson has mastered the art of being friendly and approachable whilst providing high quality legal advice which represents excellent value for money. They understand the needs and pressures on my organisation and support us superbly at times of difficulty."
"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."
The much anticipated final Ockenden report was published on 30 March 2020. The final report sets out the findings of the review into care provided to 1,486 families, and sets out a blueprint for safe maternity care.
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.
We invite you to an on-demand webinar looking at the key legal and practical implications for healthcare employers arising from the NHS England VCOD Guidance and actions required in Phase 2 implementation stage.
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.
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.
In this Shared Insights session we provided an overview of the implementation of the Ockenden Immediate and Essential actions.
This session discussed the future of interaction between NHS Trusts and local government amidst a drive for better integrated care.
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.
In this Shared Insights session we listen to unique perspective and learning outcomes from dealing with eating disorder patients.
In this Shared Insights session we discussed how different Coroners are approaching recovery from the pandemic.
Implications for in-house legal, patient safety, clinical governance, workforce culture and large-scale reviews.
This shared insight provided an insight into the legal issues arising from Covid-19 related illness, including long Covid and PTSD.
As we look ahead to April 2022 and the anticipated establishment of statutory integrated care systems, clinical commissioning groups are starting to plan for what the transfer of their functions to the integrated care systems will mean and to develop a transition plan accordingly.
This shared insight discussed the changes to improve and streamline the investigation process for cases under the Early Notification (EN) Scheme (changes which came into effect from 1 April 2021).
This shared insight is on indemnity issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and looks the issues that Trust legal teams have faced over the last 12 months during the pandemic.
This shared insight is on indemnity issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and looks the issues that Trust legal teams have faced over the last 12 months during the pandemic.
This shared insight looks at the NHS Early Notification team and helping Trusts with cases where babies have died following birth or where mothers have sustained severe injuries during childbirth, speaking of the consequences of these claims and the current focus on safety in maternity services.
The importance of Trusts developing a written plan so that you are ready to act quickly if anti-Covid or anti-vaccination protesters come on to your site to protest.
We talk about the key legal principles that apply when processing requests for access to confidential information and gave some practical tips on how to deal with issues that might arise when Trusts are dealing with complex information requests.
The importance of Trusts developing a written plan so that you are ready to act quickly if anti-Covid or anti-vaccination protesters come on to your site to protest.
Practical tips to share with healthcare HR colleagues on issues which may cause employee relations issues and litigation in 2021.
An update on what individuals and NHS organisations should expect from the regulators in 2021.
Insights were shared on procedure, witness statements, withdrawing admissions and taking screenshots and photos in remote hearings.
The increasing use of remote consultation technology presents new challenges from both a practical and a legal standpoint - what should practitioners to consider?
Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015], the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, patients who lack capacity to make a particular decision and data on consent claims.
When NHS Trusts should consider going to the Court of Protection.
The GMC updated guidance on 'Decision making and consent' comes into effect today, on 9 November 2020, replacing the previous guidance.
The steps organisations should take if they are subject to an investigation by the police, Health and Safety Executive or CQC.
Guidance for NHS Trusts on how to prepare for remote inquests.
Focused on effective triangulation of data and learning from claims.
The second victim and supporting clinicians through investigations, complaints, claims and inquests.
When commissioning an external review, it is essential to agree robust Terms of Reference which set out the end to end process.
Following the suspension of all non-urgent elective surgery to help free up general and acute care capacity in the wake of the pandemic, services are now starting to resume.
On 9 July NHS England and NHS Improvement issued a letter to primary medical contractors and commissioners updating them on service expectations and contracting issues.
We speak about law protecting whistleblowers, how to recognise a protected disclosure and the Trust’s statutory duties when dealing with whistleblowers.