
Health law
With over 100 health and social care lawyers advising our broad NHS and independent sector health and care client base, we’re proud to be one of the largest specialist teams in the sector. And we’re proud to be considered one of the leading advisers to health bodies in England and Wales.
We want to be an extension of your in-house legal and management teams. To be your first port of call, not only on important strategic matters but day-to-day issues too.
The fact that we know the health sector inside out means we’re armed with expertise on everything from patient-specific issues, information law queries and major investigations through to the full range of corporate and commercial issues any public or independent sector health client could face.
Across five locations, we offer comprehensive national coverage and are particularly noted for our out-of-hours support through a 24/7 healthcare helpline.
Our client base includes NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, commissioners and major national providers.
Our approach sets us apart. Working with Browne Jacobson you’ll have a partner lead, responsible for managing our relationship with you and ensuring a consistently high-quality and personal service. This partnership approach enables us to really understand our clients, delivering what they need, when they need it.
Related expertise
Featured experience
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Advised Trust in Devon Partnership NHS Trust v SSHSC [2021] re. legality of remote MHA assessments during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
Inquest
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board
MCA DoLs case.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS FT
Medical treatment case.
Key contacts

Gerard Hanratty
Partner

Clare Auty
Partner

Rebecca Fitzpatrick
Partner

Mark Barnett
Partner

Simon Tait
Partner

Jacqui Atkinson
Head of Employment Healthcare

Victoria Thourgood
Partner
Testimonials
"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."
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Racial disparities in maternity care
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Leadership and lessons learnt during the Pandemic by Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
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Shared Insights: The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework
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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.
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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.
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Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards was due to transition to Liberty Protection Safeguards in October 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic. While the public consultation has now closed and we’re still unclear of what the final legislation and code will look like, it’s worth noting and keeping a watching brief.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: The Fitness to Practise Regime
In this session, our speakers discussed the Fitness to Practise Regime and how we can help.
Legal Update
Health and Care Regulation – The Present and the Future
In this article, we discuss some of the themes we have seen in recent CQC regulation as well as providing an update on the development of their new assessment framework. I will also highlight other key developments in the sector that all providers should be aware of.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
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A new era for NHS estates?
With the now well-rehearsed lessons learnt through covid on collaboration, and new thinking on how and where care is provided, there is a new focus on the estate and with the strengthening of the estates specialists workforce, the stage is set for the NHS estate to take a leading role in achieving the ambitions for patient centred care.
Legal Update - Shared Insights
Shared Insights: Overview of inquests in relation to deaths in custody
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“MARSIPAN” Guidelines replaced with the Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders Guidance
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Legal Update - Shared Insights
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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?
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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.
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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.
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 - 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.
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A Greener NHS Estate: Top tips for implementing your Green Plan
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