Clinical governance and patient safety are among the most important priorities for NHS Trusts. The role of the regulator is now an entrenched feature of the healthcare landscape as NHS staff try to reconcile budgetary constraints with increasing demands for quality. Our medical law team is heavily engaged in the care sector, advising upon the boundaries of care provision for competent or incapable patients, confidential data management, governance, inquests and inquiries. We offer round the clock support to frontline staff on all issues of service user care provision. We also support senior management on wider policy matters ranging from governance work around vulnerable adults, including the forthcoming Safeguarding Framework for Care of the Elderly, to strategic issues arising from the Mental Health Act 2007; from preparation of an assurance framework for management of clinical incidents through to drafting an updating policy for control and restraint as a result of an adverse finding at an inquest.
We act for 188 NHS Trusts, and as a result we can apply our experience of working across a range of organisations and specialties to help channel best practices and process around our client base. We have acknowledged and in-depth experience in specific areas such as the law relating to healthcare associated infection.
Protection of reputation is key to maintaining confidence in the care and services provided in the healthcare sector, but there will inevitably be times when an organisation needs to manage an adverse incident, complaint, claim, inquiry, multi-agency review or inquest. In all these areas we have experienced advocates and specialists who can advise on the strategic and political implications at the outset. Our pragmatic approach is to minimise reputational risk and promote organisational learning.