Blog
Administrative Court Overturns NMC Strike-Off: Key Lessons for Regulators and Prosecutors
Jessica Etherington
6 February 2015
Private eyes - impact of NHS outsourcing of eye care to the private sector
This winter has revealed to us all just how fragile our Accident & Emergency care services have become when faced with a perfect storm of simultaneous increased demand and cost, as well as changes in NHS structural management.
26 January 2015
Court fees to escalate - who will pay?
The current court issue fee to start formal proceedings in a civil claim worth over £200,000 is £1,515 rising to a maximum of £1,920 for the highest value claims. In proposals set out in the government’s second consultation document published on Friday 16 January 2015 , the Ministry of Justice announced that it has decided this issue fee should be set at 5% of the value of the claim, capped at £10,000 for claims over £200,000 with a 10% discount if lodged electronically. This represents over a 6 fold increase in a claim worth £200,000, for example. Substantial increases in other fees are also proposed.
22 December 2014
Quick Guide: Delayed Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis
This little known but not so rare condition can have a devastating impact on patient’s lives if warning signs are missed. Undiagnosed or untreated, Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) can cause serious problems including permanent vision loss.
12 December 2014
The Medical Innovation Bill - will it ever be a good idea?
The report stage of the Medical Innovation Bill begins today, on Friday 12 December. Lord Saatchi has submitted further amendments to the Bill, which is now substantially altered. Unfortunately this billl was pretty much a sow’s ear at the outset, and no amount of alteration will make it into a silk purse.
3 December 2014
Home birth v hospital birth – which is safer? The debate continues.
Revised clinical guidance has been issued today from NICE on intrapartum care.
I may seem cynical when I say that I am sceptical about the reasoning and motivation behind this Guidance which purports to rely on research findings to support the view that giving birth in a free standing midwifery or home birth setting is better and at least as safe as it is in a hospital for low risk first time mothers.