tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085320323495476652024-02-20T09:29:59.095+00:00AvMA UK - the blogAction against Medical Accidents - for patient safety and justiceAvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-85691365525247964272012-08-17T16:02:00.000+01:002012-09-03T17:12:50.446+01:00BIG CHANGES IN LEGAL AID AND NO WIN NO FEE COMING UP IN APRIL 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
law on paying legal fees has changed recently, and although it is not coming
into effect until April 2013, in certain cases the changes may have an effect <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>now</u></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At present,
most people who have a claim for injury against a hospital trust or other
healthcare provider will either receive <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal
Aid</b> to cover their legal costs, or their solicitor will act for them on a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conditional Fee Agreement</b> (this is
usually called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No Win No Fee</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As
a rule, clients with the benefit of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal
Aid</b> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No Win No Fee</b>
arrangements with their solicitors pay no fees if a case is unsuccessful, if
they win their case the costs are met by the losing defendant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Although
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal Aid</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No Win No Fee</b> agreements are not being abolished, the situation is
going to change dramatically on 1<sup>st</sup> April 2013 because of certain
provisions in an act of Parliament called the <u>Legal Aid, Sentencing and
Punishment of Offenders Act</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the moment any person with a clinical negligence claim may be eligible for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal Aid</b> provided 1) Their chances of
success are reasonable; and 2) Their income and capital are below a certain level.<u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">From April 2013 <u>only</u>
those who have been injured during pregnancy, labour, or the first eight weeks
of life will be eligible for Legal Aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is regardless of whether in other respects they have a strong case
and/or a very low income.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
addition, there will be a Legal Aid Levy taken from the damages of people with successful
claims by the government’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal Aid
Agency</b> (the organisation set up to administer Legal Aid after April
2013).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deduction will be 25% of the
general damages awarded, that is, the part of your damages that compensates for
the pain and suffering endured as a result of the negligence and any past
losses (expenses) claimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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many cases this could be a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>very</u></b>
significant sum in<u>d</u>eed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Conditional Fee
Agreements (No Win No Fee)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Because
of the reduction in availability of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal
Aid</b> many more people will be relying on their solicitors offering a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No Win No Fee</b> agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solicitors will continue to offer this
facility to their clients, where if the case is not successful they will pay no
fees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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in successful cases there will be changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Presently,
the costs that claimants recover from defendants include a solicitor’s success
fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The success fee is calculated as a
percentage of the solicitor’s basic fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is used to offset the risk of the solicitor not being paid anything
should the claimant lose the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
only payable if the claimant wins the case and will usually be paid by the
losing opponent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">However,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">from April 2013 successful claimants <span style="color: black;">may be deprived of up to 25% of their general damages in
order to pay solicitors' success fees, as these will no longer be recoverable
from Defendants.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What can you do now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
is very important that if, before April 2013, you think you may have a claim
against a hospital trust or other healthcare provider, you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">seek legal advice as soon as possible</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Any
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No Win No Fee</b> agreement entered into
or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legal Aid</b> granted <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>before April 2013</u></b> will not be
subject to the new rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By
instructing a solicitor and establishing the method of funding before April
2013, you may be saving yourself a significant deduction from damages if your
case is successful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To
obtain specialist legal advice from one of AvMA’s accredited solicitors you may
either telephone our helpline on 0845 123 2352 or click <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/pages/find_a_solicitor.html">here</a> </b>and select a solicitor from
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AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-10073393385566341142012-02-09T13:50:00.000+00:002012-02-09T13:50:38.981+00:00Don't be fooled by the promise of exceptional funding<span lang="EN"> In response to the countless meetings and volumes of correspondence Avma and our members have had with our MPs, ministers, and civil servants at the MOJ over the removal of clinical negligence from the scope of legal aid we have all had a similar response...<br />
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<em>'Solicitors will offer clients CFAs and if not £6m will be available via exceptional funding.'</em><br />
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But by definition, experience, and by linking together information contained hidden deep within three very long documents we say this cannot be the answer<br />
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Firstly. How can anything that is exceptional provide for the funding of a whole category<br />
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Secondly exceptional funding has been around for a long time in theory, for exceptional personal injury claims, and inquests. The experience of our members is almost invariable, they apply but their clients do not get it.<br />
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Thirdly and perhaps most importantly is if you join up the dots and add up the figures the outcome for claimants is not good. They could (and in the case of brain damaged children would) end up worse of than with any other sort of funding because the government would take 25% of their damages to pay back to a supplementary legal aid scheme.<br />
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As we say you have to look hard and make connections. But in the green paper it is stated £6m is put aside for exceptional funding. In the consultation published in Nov 2010 a table shows £6m could be available from claimants damages if a SLAS were operated and in its response to the consultation pub June 21 2011 at para 33 page 250 the government sets out the proposal that any exceptional funding scheme for clin neg would be funded by a SLAS based on a 25% levy on all damages except future care and loss<br />
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Simples - keep legal aid in scope as it presently is or the most seriously injured will pay</span>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-46121307723879381382012-01-09T15:05:00.000+00:002012-01-09T15:05:44.068+00:00PLAN TO CUT LEGAL AID FOR CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE WOULD COST THE TAXPAYER MILLIONS, INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FINDS<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Knock on costs estimated at THREE times predicted government saving </i></span></b><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cutting legal aid for those who have suffered clinical negligence would cost the Government (i.e. the taxpayer), millions of pounds more that it would save Ken Clarke’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ), confirms independent research by <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Kings</placename> <placetype w:st="on">College</placetype></place> published today by the Law Society. </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><u><a href="http://www.kcl.ac.uk/content/1/c6/08/81/08/UnintendedConsequencesFinalReport.pdf">Unintended Consequences: the cost of the Government’s Legal Aid Reforms</a> </u></i>(“the Report”) vindicates what campaigners <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Action against Medical Accidents</b> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AvMA</b> – the charity for patient safety and justice) have been saying since the proposal, one of a host of controversial cuts contained in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO), was announced. </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Report shows that the cuts proposed in LASPO will give rise to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unbudgeted costs of at least £139M</b>, undermining Ken Clarke’s contribution to the Government’s deficit reduction target. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The specific chapter on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clinical Negligence can be found at pages 65-71</b>. It shows that knock-on costs for Clinical Negligence alone amount to THREE times the predicted government saving. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A proposed budget saving of £10.5m set against knock-on costs of around £28.5m</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">with a net loss of around £18m. This, will, in most part, be shouldered by the NHS. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unsurprisingly the NHS Litigation Authority itself has already registered opposition to these cuts stating that legal aid is by far the fairest and most economical way to fund these claims; and that Lord Justice Jackson, architect of the Government’s controversial reforms to Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs or “no win, no fee” agreements), predicated his proposals on there being a system of legal aid still in place. He has said that clinical negligence in particular should remain in scope for legal aid. </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, the Government faces a rebellion and possible defeat in the Lords unless it drops its plan. Influential Liberal Democrat peers Lord Carlile and Lord Thomas are championing an amendment to keep clinical negligence in scope for legal aid. The Bill is due to be debated on January 10<sup><span style="mso-text-raise: 5.0pt; position: relative; top: -5pt;">th</span></sup>. </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Peter Walsh, Chief Executive of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AvMA</b> said: </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Cutting legal aid for clinical negligence is just bonkers whichever way you look at it. Either the Government is being deeply cynical and people injured by clinical negligence simply won’t be able to access justice, or the taxpayer and the NHS will be hit hard at a time it can least afford it. As the Report states, ‘there is certainly no economic justification for these changes’ (para 9.4.5)”. </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Walsh continues, “The Report’s findings also validate our decision to launch <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Judicial Review</b> proceedings in which we contend that the MOJs consultation, culminating in the Response of 21 June 2011, was manifestly flawed.” </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the Report’s key conclusions highlights ‘the lack of robust data on numerous elements of the Civil justice system’(9.4.5), echoing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AvMA</b>’s grave concerns about the evidence the government used or had access to when supplying reasons for its Response. As a result of its findings, the Report importantly insists that ‘the government addresses the Justice Select Committee’s request for a full and proper appraisal of the knock-on costs before these changes are enacted’. (9.4.7) </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Walsh concludes, “It is evident and shown in this Report, that the government has failed to prove two of its key assumptions supporting its proposals, these being, that the new regime will result in significant savings or that the potential savings alone justify the proposed changes.” </span></div><div class="Default" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">AvMA</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> point out that there are even further unintended consequences and costs of cutting legal aid for clinical negligence. The patient safety experts are concerned that if people are unable to pursue claims then errors will not come to light and opportunities for improving patient safety missed. This would result in immeasurable human cost as well as huge costs for the NHS. Further, the clinical negligence legal market would be thrown open to non specialist solicitors and claims farmers, with none of the quality control afforded by publicly funded legal aid.</span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-55153536731746572392011-09-30T15:08:00.000+01:002011-09-30T15:08:31.979+01:00CAN THE LORDS RESUSCITATE LEGAL AID IN CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">As the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (“the Bill”) makes its way through parliament, it seems that support to keep Legal Aid in Scope for Clinical Negligence is gaining momentum.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Lord Justice Jackson, author of the somewhat controversial changes to Conditional Fee Agreements, which alongside the proposed cuts to Legal Aid, create a double whammy effect to funding, has himself spoken out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He comments that Legal Aid <u>should</u> be retained, especially in matters of Clinical Negligence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">AvMA has also launched its own attack on the decision to cut this funding lifeline, by commencing Judicial Review proceedings challenging the decision at grass roots, citing the MOJ’s decision as based on unfair and irrational criteria (see <a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/">press release</a>).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Now, the Lords have joined the debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Law Society Gazette (29 September 2011, page 3) reports that Lord Carlile of Berriew QC (Liberal Democrat) believes that there will be enough support from all sides to change the Bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord Carlile adds “Clinical Negligence cases are an example …in which disbursements would work up front; cases in which you don’t know you’re going to have a successful claim, all you can say is there might be one until some expert evidence has been obtained.” (Law Society Gazette, 29 September 2011, page 3).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">This is echoed by Tom Brake MP (also Liberal Democrat) who shares a sympathetic approach in keeping Clinical Negligence in Scope, hinting at what appears to be the inevitable scrutiny of the Bill by the Lords.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Our Blog previously reported (03 March 2011) the Judiciary’s condemnation of the removal of Legal Aid funding in Clinical Negligence citing “potential injustice for a small group of vulnerable Claimants if the present proposal is implemented” (para 47, <a href="http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/media/media-releases/2011/responses-proposals-for-the-reform-of-legal-aid">Report</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Let’s make sure this momentum keeps building and bring the issue of access to justice to the forefront of debate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">AvMA has been working hard to get the message out that access to justice will undoubtedly be compromised should the changes stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please see our media coverage links below:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/charity-attacks-plan-to-cut-legal-aid-for-victims-of-nhs-neglect-2358796.html?service=Print">Independent</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Law Society Gazette </span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15013815"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BBC News </span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15025849">BBC </a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><strong>STOP PRESS!! </strong>BBC Radio Four “You and Yours” will be discussing Clinical Negligence and Legal Aid on Monday 03 October 2011. Peter Walsh from AvMA will be being interviewed at approximately 12:30.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also visit the <a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/pages/legal_aid.html">campaign</a> section of our website to find out how the changes will effect you and what you can do to help </span></span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-12251272343392653192011-07-13T15:55:00.000+01:002011-07-13T15:55:06.103+01:00The News International Smokescreen<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">The revelation that journalists and private investigators working for News International have been hacking into mobile phone messages and using underhand means to obtain confidential medical records and financial information is truly shocking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">However, what is equally shocking is that leaders of our 3 major political parties are using these revelations to court public opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further the media furore is a smoke screen behind which 3 Bills going through Parliament which will have a more significant and far reaching effect upon all of us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">The Legal Aid, Punishment of Offenders Bill which has already reached the Committee stage in the Houses of Parliament seeks to deny justice to the most injured and vulnerable of our society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If all the clauses in this Bill become law people with serious and persisting injuries, caused through the negligence of healthcare workers will be denied access to justice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">At present all children and any adult who qualifies financially is entitled to legal aid to investigate and pursue a claim for compensation if they have been injured in the course of healthcare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill seeks to take away that right at a stroke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Government explains to us that this is alright because solicitors will act for those people on a no win no fee agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation is no so simple, first an individual may have to pay two to three thousand pounds for initial legal costs before a solicitor will consider entering into a no win no fee agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then if the case is successful up to a quarter of their damages may be needed to pay for the solicitor’s success fee.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">The Public Bodies Bill will postpone the appointment of a Chief Coroner for the foreseeable future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following a protest led by the charity INQUEST and supported by AvMA and The Royal British Legion, the act to abolish the role of Chief Coroner was amended but the amendment to defer appointment into the future is far from satisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At present it is very difficult to challenge a Coroner’s decision, whether to hold an inquest or not, whether to admit certain evidence at the inquest or a verdict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At present the only way to review a coroners decision is by judicial review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the key roles of a Chief Coroner was to consider appeals (by family and friends of the deceased) on these decisions made by coroners.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">Finally, the Health and Social Care Bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many will be aware that following challenges to the proposal that consortiums led by GPs were to take over as the purchasers of care for their patients the Government undertook a review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the decision on who leads the consortium of purchasers has only been modified slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may, at first seem to many that this commissioning has little to do with an individual's healthcare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if a patient neeeds day surgery and finds instead of being referred locally they must travel to a hospital 30 or 40 miles away simply because that hospital will do the procedure cheaper the patient may feel that they are very significantly affected by this change in the law.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">This charity will continue to tweet, blog and comment in opposition to such changes that affect the life, liberty and access to justice for the citizens of this country, in particular for patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can it be that a National Health Service, provided by the Government for its people can injure one of its patients yet the Government itself denies access to justice through removal of legal aid?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">In addition to our activities on the social media sites we are also working behind the scenes to lobby MPs, brief journalists and press to provide evidence to Government Select Committees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">Our <personname w:st="on">Legal Director</personname>, <personname w:st="on">Catherine Hopkins</personname> will be giving evidence to the Scrutiny Committee on the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill on Thursday 14<sup>th</sup> July.</span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-34189150135927094092011-04-07T15:59:00.000+01:002011-04-07T15:59:15.433+01:00LORD JUSTICE JACKSON’S CFA PROPOSALS TO PROCEED<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Government has announced its intention to follow Lord Justice Jackson’s proposed reforms to Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA), otherwise known as “no win, no fee”, for Clinical Negligence Claims.</span></span></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read the Government’s full response <u><a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/data/files/Legal/emails_for_solicitors/2011/jacksonreportgovernmentresponse.pdf?utm_campaign=This+week%27s+key+developments&utm_source=AVMA&utm_medium=email"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="color: blue;"><strong>.</strong></span></u></span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></u></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The reforms to the CFA and After the Event insurance (ATE) regimes will no doubt affect how Claimants proceed with their Clinical Negligence claims, as lawyers will need to re-evaluate best practice for funding and running such cases.</span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Over 600 formal responses were received by the Ministry of Justice in reply to the consultation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AvMA’s response can be found <a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/data/files/consultation_response_on_legal_aid_final.pdf"><strong><span style="color: blue;">here.</span></strong></a></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></u></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As a result, the Government intends to implement all of Lord Justice Jackson’s major proposals and anticipates this to be in or around autumn 2012 after receiving assent.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The main changes to the present ‘no win, no fee’ arrangements are:</span></span></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">When successful in their claim, Claimants will pay their solicitors a success fee, which is a percentage mark-up on the solicitor’s basic charges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The solicitor’s success fee will be taken out of the Claimant’s damages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At present the success fee is paid by the losing party.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Premiums for ATE insurance policies, which are taken out to protect the Claimant against paying the Defendant’s costs should they lose their case, will no longer be paid by the loser (the Defendant) at the end of the case.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">General damages (that is money for pain and suffering endured, which does not include any pecuniary loss flowing from the injury) will be increased by 10% to help Claimants cover the cost of their success fees and insurance premiums mentioned above.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">No more than 25% of a Claimant’s general damages and past losses can be used to pay the Claimant’s solicitor’s success fee and the Claimant’s insurance policy premium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This does not include future losses, which are protected from such a deduction.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Qualified One Way Costs Shifting (QOCS) is to be introduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that if a Claimant loses a case brought against a doctor or hospital, under certain (qualified) circumstances, the usual rule that the loser pays the winner’s costs will not apply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Claimant will not have to pay the Defendant’s costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not entirely clear when a Claimant will not have the benefit of this protection, although the government has said it would be when a Claimant was conspicuously wealthy or when there is some misconduct on the Claimant’s part.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">There will be a new test of proportionality in costs assessment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only reasonable and proportionate cost may be recovered from the losing party.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">There will be a change to the prescribed rates of which successful litigants in person can recover.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">There will be a change to the rules governing offers to settle (called Part 36 offers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aim is to have equally effective incentives for Claimants and Defendants to make and accept reasonable offers to settle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The changes aim to make it very clear whether the damages finally awarded to a Claimant at Court are better or worse than the previous offer to settle made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be financial penalties imposed on the party by the Court if it sees one party as having unreasonably prolonged the litigation by not accepting an earlier offer. </span></div></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Government’s response was announced alongside a new consultation to streamline the current Civil Justice system in <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region> and <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Wales</country-region></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the consultation document <a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/solving-disputes-county-court.htm"><strong><span style="color: blue;">here.</span></strong></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seemingly focusing on lower value claims, the key aims identified by this new consultation are raised to address and encourage:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Proportionality – disputes be resolved in the most appropriate forum to drive down costs in non-complex issues</span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Personal responsibility – the general public to take responsibility for resolving their own disputes in non-complex issues</span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Streamlined procedure – timely justice provided in a “user” friendly manner </span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Transparency – clear information provided on dispute resolution options available</span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This consultation is open until 30 June 2011.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-39810855577816700482011-03-03T16:17:00.000+00:002011-03-03T16:17:50.440+00:00JUDICIARY SLAMS PROPOSED CUTS TO LEGAL AID<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Report predicts ‘inevitable’ decline in quality of justice and an overloaded Court system for Clinical Negligence cases</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Read the full report <a href="http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/media/media-releases/2011/responses-proposals-for-the-reform-of-legal-aid">here</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The report of the Judges’ Subcommittee states candidly that removal of Clinical Negligence from Scope “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does not appear… justified</i>” (para 37).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">It importantly notes the plight of the Claimant should these proposals come to fruition by reminding that the proposals will cause <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“potential injustice for a small group of highly vulnerable Claimants if the present proposal is implemented” </i>(para 47).<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The report’s conclusions, echoing those of AvMA’s consultation response, assert that the current proposals will compromise access to justice for those that need it most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It emphasises that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">victims of clinical negligence are almost always the vulnerable, from the unborn child to those who are physically or mentally ill or infirm and whose vulnerability is usually the reason for the medical intervention</i>.” (para 38)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The most notable concern is the expected rise in the Litigant in Person triggered by the axing of Legal Aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this means of funding no longer available, it is anticipated that solicitors will be unable to take on many of these clinical negligence cases, as firms will find themselves unable to fund the high disbursements associated with this complex area of law.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Paragraph 43 of the report remarks, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Given the hefty front loading of financial outlay to assemble the necessary expert evidence to support clinical negligence claims, as well as the high cost of legal expertise … to pursue litigation,it must be highly questionable whether there is any other ‘viable’ alternative to legal aid</i>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With no such viable funding alternative, particularly bearing in mind the potential double-whammy consequences of the proposed Jackson CFA reforms, Claimants will be forced to represent themselves leading to a host of foreseeable problems, according to the Subcommittee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Paragraph 38 of the report explains the problem with this, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“as a result of the many special features of clinical negligence litigation, a separate body of legal principles and practice has developed over the last fifty years or so, leading to what is now sophisticated and complex litigation, quite beyond the ability of anyone to pursue as a Litigant in Person.”</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The report comments that the increase in the number of Litigants in Person will lead to, not only an ‘inevitable’ decline in quality of justice, but also, an overloading of the Court system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In fact, it is ostensible that the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">court system will slow down to such an extent that in the long-run, it could cost the government more money than the current system of Legal Aid, seemingly subverting the point of the proposals!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The report further justifies its concern about the potential cost that will be created if Legal Aid is abandoned, by highlighting the fact that, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fewer than 1% of all solicitors are able to represent Claimants in clinical negligence litigation under the system of legal aid franchising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those that do are, consequently, responsible and highly specialist practitioners who are unlikely to waste public funds on hopeless claims</i>.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(<place w:st="on">Para</place> 40)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The report reiterates that currently there is no other viable or proposed alternative for funding claims which would currently fall in Scope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Subcommittee reminds that the <u>NHS Redress Act 2006</u> is not yet in force and warns that in any event this Act will only serve to cater for low value claims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will not serve to fill the access to justice gap left by the removal of Legal Aid funding.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Read AvMA’s response to the <a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/data/files/consultation_response_on_legal_aid_final.pdf">Consultation</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Please sign <a href="http://www.gopetition.com/petition/41532.html">here</a> if you wish to show your support for petition to the government urging them to reconsider proposed changes to both the current Legal Aid system and CFA.</span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-70743726349567783412011-02-14T13:21:00.002+00:002011-02-14T13:24:33.159+00:00Roses are red....<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">... Violets are blue</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Access to Justice</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We still need you!</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">AvMA SUBMITS RESPONSE TO MoJ’S CONSULTATION ON LEGAL AID</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">REFORM</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Read the response in full on our <a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/data/files/consultation_response_on_legal_aid_final.pdf">website</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Firstly, we should like to pass a big THANK YOU to all AvMA’s members and friends who provided data, comments or feedback with regard to the compilation of our response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your participation was invaluable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Notwithstanding this, we stress the independent nature of our response which is based on what we believe the effect these proposals will have on those who have unfortunately suffered a medical accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our response does not promote the views of our individual members or supporters.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Our conclusions are clear.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><strong>The proposal to remove Legal Aid funding from patients who are injured in the course of medical treatment is fundamentally unfair.</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><strong>It will have a disproportionate effect on some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, including the elderly and children.</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><strong>Access to Justice will be compromised</strong>.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Summary of findings:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The alternative funding suggested by the proposals, such as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA) and Before the Event Insurance (BTE) will not provide a viable alternative to those, who, under the current system, are entitled to Legal Aid.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This rings especially true if Lord Justice Jackson’s CFA reforms are implemented, which were submitted presupposing the continuation and maintenance of the current Legal Aid system.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the major concerns to Claimants and solicitors alike, is the non-funding of disbursements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Legal Aid gone, it will fall upon solicitor firms to fund costs of investigation which will be unworkable for many firms meaning legitimate cases may be rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Claimant, that is an individual who has suffered harm in the course of medical treatment, will suffer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Alternatively, Claimants themselves will be expected to fund these significant costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly this is not an option for those who would be entitled to Legal Aid in the current system and the threat is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">genuine </i>cases will go unheard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A straw-poll of solicitor firms showed that they would only have taken on 44% of their existing Legal Aid case load if they had to use alternative funding for the cases.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This means a staggering 56% of potential claims would fall through the net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using this figure against the number of LSC certificates notified to the NHSLA for the current period, means around 2,128 Claimants could have been denied access to justice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Smaller solicitor firms are likely to be unable to run cases of lesser value or those of high risk requiring significant upfront disbursements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could lead to no access to legal advice in large areas of the country for Claimants, as the work is concentrated in fewer but larger firms.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The proposed limits to expert fees will also cause an inequality of arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certain disciplines such as neonatology, will simply not be able to work under the fee regime suggested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, Defendants will still have access to these specialists which clearly contravenes the idea of fairness in proceedings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is also likely to result in a withdrawal of some experts from Claimant work altogether.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Further, the rise in individuals pursuing a claim on their own (litigants in person) is a real possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clinical Negligence claims are very complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No-one managing a clinical negligence department would ask a newly qualified solicitor to run such a case without careful supervision and support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cases are heavily reliant on expert evidence from senior hospital consultants and nurses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Experts are likely to find this an unworkable option and under-settling will be a real threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The court system itself is very complicated for the uninitiated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">From information provided by solicitor firms, on average Clinical Negligence claims take fifty-four months to conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time is unworkable for the litigant in person.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cases concerning the death of a patient, where under our law the damages are quite modest, will be prejudiced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claimants could either<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not find a solicitor to take the case on or if the case can be pursued will suffer a significant deduction from the relatively low damages to cover their costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result will be a significant denial of justice for these Claimants.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The availability of Legal Aid only in exceptional circumstances (one government proposal) will not make up for the deficit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have spoken to many solicitors who say already in cases where only exceptional funding is available it is hardly ever granted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Legal Aid has also brought about quality control of Clinical Negligence professionals, Solicitors who wish to secure a Legal Aid contract must demonstrate that they have a quality mark with ongoing supervision ensuring high standards of work within the industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These checks and balances are in danger of slipping if Legal Aid goes, with Claimants potentially suffering the consequences.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><u>AvMA asks to be included in any further consultations that will take place, including any discussions concerning the implementation of a specialist helpline</u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At the time of posting we are delighted to say we have over 1,100 signatures on our petition to the government urging them to reconsider proposed changes to both the current Legal Aid system and CFA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please sign <a href="http://www.gopetition.com/petition/41532.html">here</a> if you wish to show your support:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><br />
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</strong></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-25982618836339438492010-12-15T12:21:00.000+00:002010-12-15T12:21:46.187+00:00Reprieve for the post of Chief CoronerSometimes even campaigning organisations like AvMA, INQUEST and the Royal British Legion can be taken by surprise by its own success. Faced with the coalition government's mantra 'we have to cut costs because the previous government has left huge debts' it is tempting to shrug one's collective charitable shoulders and see what can be done with the crumbs that are left to us.<br />
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In our previous post we set out details of the proposals to abolish key reforms of the coroners system, notably the decision not to appoint a Chief Coroner, not to instigate an appeals process that families could actually use and appoint medical advisers for each Coroner's Court<br />
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On Monday a <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article2841682.ece">letter</a> appeared in the Times, signed by many charities (including AvMA, INQUEST and The Royal British Legion) involved in supporting bereaved families and friends at inquests, calling for support to Baroness Finlay's amendment to the Public Bodies Bill removing reference to the abolition of the Chief Coroner.<br />
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So we are delighted that yesterday <strong><u>Baroness Findlay's amendment</u></strong> was debated in a packed House of Lords yesterday and <strong><u>passed by 277 votes to 165</u></strong>.<br />
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As well as being very pleased that the amendment has been carried and the post of Chief Coroner is again on the agenda we wonder if this is the first defeat of the Coalition GovernmentAvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-5878485743123339722010-11-19T10:14:00.004+00:002010-12-14T12:56:28.550+00:00The Coalition Government reverses key reforms to our Coroners system<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are unfortunate to loose a friend or relative in circumstances where the cause of death is violent, uncertain or accidental you may find yourself meeting a coroner, coroner’s officer or attending an inquest for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How friends and families are treated and what answers they receive to their questions at the inquest will depend entirely on the way an individual coroner runs his court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each coroner covers a particular area and he or she is responsible for investigating all deaths occurring in that area that are referred to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no consistency between different coroners’ approach to their investigations and how the inquest itself is conducted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If a family is unhappy with the outcome of a Coroner’s investigation, after an informal approach to the coroner himself the only recourse is to Judicial Review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This process is highly complicated, expensive and permission has to be granted for a review which may be refused.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While some coroners are also doctors many coroners have no medical knowledge or experience beyond what they have learned on the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet they are not compelled to obtain medical advice or evidence even in the most complex medical deaths (although many do).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because there is no central organization governing the role of coroners and their courts there is no opportunity to spot problems in a particular area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time and again we have seen scandals involving particular doctors or hospitals (Shipman, Gosport War Memorial Hospital and Stafford Hospital come immediately to mind) but with no central system of overview it is difficult to spot trends</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last year AvMA and many other organizations involved in helping bereaved families welcomed a new law that was intended to put these problems right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 included three important reforms:-</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><ol style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The appointment of a Chief Coroner</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The introduction of medical advisors for every coroner</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An appeals process that was straightforward and accessible to ordinary people</span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Chief coroner was to have supervised a system of reporting, enabling trends to be spotted, ensuring uniformity of training and dissemination of information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would also oversee a new appeals process and each coroner would have the benefit of sitting with a medical advisor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After years of consultation and a brief period of celebration that the major concerns about the coronial system may be about to be addressed we heard<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recently that the government intends to abolish the role of chief coroner, delay indefinitely the appointment of medical advisors and that there will not be an appeals process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The news was broken to us and fellow representatives from other NGOs including <a href="http://www.inquest.org.uk/">INQUEST </a>and <a href="http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/">The Royal British Legion </a> at a meeting called by the Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And now legislation is before parliament to do just that in the form of the Public Bodies Bill that reaches the committee stage in the House of Lords on Tuesday 23 November.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AvMA together with <a href="http://www.inquest.org.uk/">INQUEST</a> and <a href="http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help/poppy-advice/independent-inquest-advice">The Royal British Legion </a>are <a href="http://www.avma.org.uk/data/files/Press_Release_-AvMA_deeply_regrets_Government_plans_to_abolish_much_anticipated_reforms_to_the_Coroners_justice_system.pdf">calling</a> for the government to urgently to reconsider its decision to abolish this key role that would ensure fairness and justice for bereaved families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baroness Finlay of Llandaff has put down an amendment to the Bill removing reference to the abolition of the roles of Chief Coroner and Medical advisor which we strongly support </span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-36198374391897304282010-11-16T13:42:00.001+00:002010-11-16T14:41:34.077+00:00Proposals to abolish legal aid will deny access to justice for many injured people<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke made two announcements that would, if implemented, seriously affect access to justice for people injured in the course of medical treatment. Firstly he announced the proposal to end legal aid for clinical negligence, education and welfare claims this will have an impact on all people with disabilities including those injured by medical accidents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second proposal is to end the system where claimants can recover nearly all their costs from defendants if their case is successful. If the reform goes ahead, only about half of the costs will be recovered leading to claimants suffering large deductions from their damages, damages that are designed to compensate them for their injury and pay for accommodation and care they need as a result of that injury.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This second proposal comes from the recommendation of the Review of Civil Litigation Costs by Sir Rupert Jackson published by the Labour government in December last year. However it is clear that Sir Rupert did not envisage abolition of legal aid to go hand in hand with his recommended reforms as in his report he says:-</span><br />
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<div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I do not make any recommendation in this chapter for the expansion or restoration of legal aid. I do however, stress the vital necessity of making no further cutbacks in Legal Aid availability of eligibility... the maintenance of legal aid at no less than the present levels makes sound sense and is in the public interest '</span></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While this second proposal will only affect claimants whose solicitors act for them under a no win no fee arrangement, the number of people whose legal fees are covered in this way will increase considerably if legal aid is abolished. These reforms will have the greatest impact on children and the most seriously injured.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter Walsh our CEO has made the following statement:-</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<em>AvMA are urging members of the public to respond to the consultation on plans to cut legal aid completely for clinical negligence cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If implemented, the proposals could add millions of pounds to the NHS bill for settling negligence claims, as well as making access to justice impossible for many would-be claimants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because people will be forced to enter into no-win no-fee agreements with lawyers, which are much more expensive to settle than legal aid cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some people even this will not be an option, because other planned changes in Lord Jackson’s report will mean that no-win no-fee agreements are outside the reach of many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not joined-up government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the Ministry of Justice would save by scrapping legal aid will cost the NHS many times more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, the overall effect of changes will hit the poorest hardest, denying them access to justice even if they have been seriously harmed by negligence in the NHS”.</span></em></span></div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-91012216579354341312010-11-11T15:14:00.000+00:002010-11-11T15:33:35.144+00:00An Age Old Problem - Confidential enquiry into care of the elderly<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Today the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) published <a href="http://www.ncepod.org.uk/2010report3/downloads/EESE_fullReport.pdf">An Age Old Problem. </a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The report examines all deaths of patients over 80 occurring within 30 days of surgery. The report which covers deaths in both NHS and private hospitals covers a three month period from April to June 2008. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that period there were 1752 deaths.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The report highlights the lack of consideration of the patients’ pre-operative condition which in turn leads to poor outcomes after surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lists nutrition, deafness, poor sight and dementia amongst the possible pre-operative problems in elderly patients and recommends that before surgery they are assessed by specialists in medicine for the care of older people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other key factors in the high death rate in this age group are delays of more than 24 hours in carrying out emergency surgery and poor post operative observation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Time and again AvMA sees problems arising with care of the elderly in our hospitals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see failure to allow for their special needs and a general attitude that elderly people’s health problems are just part of the aging process but that little can be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas, as the report concludes, recognition of the problems and properly addressing them before surgery can lead to significantly better outcomes for this group of patients.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We have also seen terrible examples of poor basic care of the elderly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have assisted relatives of patients at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital where an inquest last year found that in some cases there was inappropriate use of sedation that may have contributed to the person’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now at the <a href="http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/">Stafford Inquiry</a> we hear accounts of (not exclusively elderly) patients lying in soiled beds, so thirsty one patient was seen to drink from a flower vase,.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The evidence cited in the NCEPOD report and currently being heard at the <a href="http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/">Stafford Inquiry</a> is nothing short of a disgrace, elderly people are being let down by healthcare providers in every possible way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the accounts of the nursing care at Stafford the patients were being denied even the most basic care in relation to nutrition and hygiene and by this report there is a failure to provide the specialist help these patients need for their complex health needs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-24868973757020299092010-11-10T17:49:00.000+00:002010-11-10T17:49:35.649+00:00AvMA's opening statement to the InquiryToday AvMA's CEO Peter Walsh presented our opening statement to the enquiry. In it he described AvMA's work campaigning for safer health care and provided details of our involvement with patients and their relatives at Stafford Hospital. He also outlined AvMA's hope for the inquiry, in particular that the eventual conclusions and recommendation of the inquiry would be robustly implemented and lead to significant improvements in patient safety and care.<br />
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A full transcript of AvMA's submission and of each day's proceedings at the inquiry can be found on the Inquiry's <a href="http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/home">website</a> . The written submissions of the various care participants have also been uploaded to the siteAvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-34537706626857344092010-11-09T12:13:00.000+00:002010-11-09T13:52:30.855+00:00Stafford Hospital the opening day of the inquiry<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday AvMA's</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> CEO Peter Walsh was present at the opening day of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Inquiry, together with our legal team from Kingsley Napley, led by partner Ross Brain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robert Francis QC, Chairman of the Inquiry said in his opening remarks "</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all here because of the terrible standard of service inflicted on so many of the patients who went to <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Stafford</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Hospital</placetype></place> for treatment and their families. Last year in my first inquiry I sat and listened to many stories of appalling care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I did so, the questions that went constantly through my mind were: why did none of the many organisations charged with the supervision and regulation of our hospitals detect that something so serious was going on, and why was nothing done about it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That question was one which many patients and their families and, it is fair to say, health care professionals as well wanted to be answered."</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/">link to the inquiry website</a>AvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2808532032349547665.post-76320146946521856272010-11-02T14:50:00.000+00:002010-11-03T17:32:03.154+00:00Launching the AvMA blogOn Monday 8 November the public enquiry into the Mid Staffordshire Hospital Foundation Trust will formally open. As core participants AvMA will have the opportunity to give evidence on key areas that are of particular concern to us. These will include, patient safety, correct use of statistics, openness and the role of the coroner.<br />
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We will post updating information and reports from the enquiry as the news breaks. But we do not intend that this blog will be solely devoted to the enquiry, we will also post on other issues in our on going campaign for patient safety and justiceAvMAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399899175251895284noreply@blogger.com0