Covid-19 Clinical Negligence Protocol: 2020

The patient safety charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA), NHS Resolution which handles all claims against the NHS in England now including GPs, and the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL) have signed up to a new protocol to better manage claims during the ongoing coronavirus situation.

The protocol is wide-ranging, covering:

• moratoriums upon limitation until 3 months after the protocol ends;
• making use of email to serve and receive documents the default position;
• encouraging much more innovation for example on-line examinations of clients for medical expert reports;
• encouraging more co-operation in the progress of claims, and in particular interim payments of damages and costs to avoid unnecessary court hearings;
• settlement meetings and mediations to take place remotely wherever possible;
• consideration of whether costs budgeting needs to take place initially or can be requested to be adjourned in order to save court and other resources.

You can download the guidance here.

For those interested in getting more support on remote examinations, why not register for our webinar on the 6th October?