Negligent hospitals to get free pass at inquests under costs cap – warning from Laurence Vick
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Enable Law’s Laurence Vick has spoken to the Daily Telegraph about new Government proposals to cap legal costs, and the effect this could have on families needing legal representation at inquest.
Currently, if a lawyer believes that a family has a good chance at a successful medical negligence claim, they will often represent the family for free at the inquest. Under the new rules, the NHS will only have to pay the claimant’s legal costs if the claim is worth more than £25,000. Many of the most relevant types of claim, such as neonatal death, stillbirth, or the death of an elderly person, are typically valued under this amount.
“This will have a massive impact,” Laurence told The Daily Telegraph.
“Inquests these days are much more searching than back in the day, and you often need specialist solicitors and barristers.
“We risk going back to the days when hearings are just two hours long and rely on evidence only from a consultant working at the hospital concerned.
“You will get families finding there is no accountability.”
To read the full story, with further commentary from Sharon Allison of Ashtons Legal, please click here: Daily Telegraph
