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.
Clinical negligence training and resources
"They are able to perform to a high standard regardless of the problem posed."
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
You may be interested in...
![Contractual liability for all inclusive treatment: Bartolomucci v Circle Health Group Limited [2025]](/getattachment/95f9533b-f99c-4fcc-b8d5-3f93904b8242/shutterstock_1265400856.jpg?variant=HeroImageTabletVariantDefinition)
Legal Update
Contractual liability for all inclusive treatment: Bartolomucci v Circle Health Group Limited [2025]
Online Event - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: 10 years on from Montgomery - Shared decision making and consent
Legal Update - Maternity services
The Generation study at UHDB: A pioneering approach to genetic healthcare
Legal Update
Clinical negligence and Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act
Legal Update
“Lost Years” compensation principle reaches the supreme court
Legal Update - Maternity services
Improving maternity care for recent migrant women with language barriers
Opinion
Reports to Prevent Future Deaths: Themes related to acute hospitals and emergency services
Training
Mock inquest training course
Legal Update
Walking the fine line: The statutory duty of candour and insurance
Legal Update - Maternity services
Improving maternity safety: Insights from MNSI’s annual recommendation report
Legal Update - Maternity services
MNSI annual report 2023/24: Key insights and future ambitions for maternity safety
Opinion - Maternity services
Enhancing care for women with ectopic pregnancies: Insights from MBRRACE-UK
Legal Update
ABC pilot: Improving maternity safety to prevent brain injuries in childbirth
Legal Update
World Patient Safety Day 2024: “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”
Legal Update
Changes to the fixed recoverable costs regime
Opinion - Maternity services
Newborns born outside of hospitals at higher risk of hypothermia during emergency responses
Legal Update - Maternity services
Introduction of baby loss certificates gives recognition to millions of bereaved families in the UK
Press Release
Landmark Supreme Court decision clarifies the extent of Doctors’ Duty of Care
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Improving communication with patients and families when responding to incidents, complaints and claims
Legal Update
Personal injury discount rate in England and Wales
Legal Update
Improving patient safety incident and complaint responses to rebuild broken trust
Legal Update
Part 36 combined offers – when are they beaten?
Legal Update
Cauda Equina Syndrome and application of the new GIRFT pathway
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework
Opinion - Maternity services
Baby Loss Awareness Week
On Saturday 15 October a wave of light swept the internet when thousands of people flooded social media with pictures of candles to remember the babies that they have lost. This event signifies the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week which aims to break the silence that is associated with baby loss in pregnancy and infancy.
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Focus on emergency medicine
Opinion - Maternity services
The impact of COVID-19 on maternal deaths
HSIB published its report on Maternal deaths during the first wave of COVID-19. The report takes a closer look at the impact that COVID-19 had during the initial period of March to May 2020.
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: The impact of Ockenden and implementation of the IEAs from ward to Board
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 - Maternity services
The Ockenden Final Report – a blueprint for safe maternity care from ward to Board
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.
Opinion
Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Purchase v Ahmed
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Preparing for 2022 – the big issues for legal teams across health and social care
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Safeguarding Forum - Safe discharge and conveyance of patients
Opinion
World Patient Safety Day 2021 - safe maternal and newborn care
Given the ongoing scrutiny of maternity services following publication of the Ockenden preliminary report in December 2020, it is timely that World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2021 has a focus on safe maternal and newborn care.
On-Demand - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Implementing the Ockenden Immediate and Essential Actions for safe maternal and newborn care
On-Demand - Maternity services
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.
On-Demand - Maternity services
Maternity mock inquest - film 2
This video illustrates some of the issues that can arise when a witness is poorly prepared.
On-Demand - Maternity services
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.