Inquest and Claims Team

Obtaining legal advice

Process for obtaining legal advice

From December 2024 the existing process for obtaining legal advice will remain in place, in that, Trust personnel may access advice on the legal areas below by, in the first instance, contacting the identified Trust leads.

The leads for these areas will receive and manage the request for advice and if necessary, seek support from either Hill Dickinson or Hempsons solicitors. Should you need to contact any of them please use the telephone number below or contact by email.

Claims and Inquests                           Commercial/contracts                  Estates and facilities

Janine Betley   07827 252529              Tim Mansfield  07453 294549      Michele McGee 07970 986697 

Ian Woods        07305369024                                                                   Christopher Murphy 07502580261

Finance and Procurement                   Information governance              Intellectual property   

Mike Jones          07939 304068            Jeanie Hedley   07876 818930        Chris Lyons       07411865686

Dave Miles           07766835494             Leanne Harrison 07584397506

Paul Harrison       07876 503019            

Mental Health Law                                    Mental Capacity Act and DoLs                                            

Christine Stanton      07881002618            Nicola Peet                    07768325783  

Anita Whelan            07785471768            Julie Harrington              07833442344

Wendy Talbot            07771336694            Stephen McGrath           07385 951121

Keiko Provost            07881002576            Jennifer Connor              07919995271                                                       

Divisional MHL Administrators        

Patient safety                                               Safety and security

Nicky Ore                     07766 422162          Joanne Fowlis         07443 265467

Claire Brockbank          07435 412560 

In addition a 24 hour, 365 day a year, on-call service is available from Hill Dickinson on 07715 376624. The on-call service should only be accessed either directly by or with the permission of silver on-call.

The chosen legal firms will only provide advice to authorised individuals (including the leads above) as this is an important feature to maintain control of this area of expenditure. The legal firms will receive a list of the authorised individuals annually. 

If you require advice in respect of an Employment Law issue please contact your HR Business Partner.

Summary

The basis and reasons why trust staff will require legal advice are wide and range from simple telephone support to complex written advice. At present the trust and its staff are fortunate to have access to a high level of knowledge ‘in-house’ and this will be provided by the leads identified above and where necessary solicitors’ firms.

Dr Panchu Xavier                                         

Director of Patient Safety                                                               

All claims made against the trust should be managed by the Claims Manager in the Patient Safety Team. Evidence will be gathered to assess whether liability should be denied or admitted. Legal advice will be provided on potential claims and requests for NHSR scheme cover, prior to and following the receipt of a letter of claim.

• View 2025/26 - Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS) document.
• View 2025/26 - Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST)

The Claims and Inquest Manager has responsibility for the management of all inquests involving the trust. Legal direction and support to witnesses and clinicians involved in the coronial process is provided by the Claims and Inquest Manager. All reports to the coroner will be screened by the Claims and Inquest Manager to ensure the quality and appropriateness of evidence presented to the court.

The Claims and Inquest Manager will ensure the trust is represented at pre-inquest hearings and the full hearing if necessary, providing support to any witnesses and liaising with relevant trust senior management following the inquest's conclusion.

• Giving Evidence in Court
• Being a witness in a clinical negligence claim
• Preparing a statement for the police
• Guidance on preparing statements for civil proceedings and inquest hearings 
• Guidance leaflet for attending an inquest and preparing statements for the coroner
• Attending a remote hearing
• Guidance for writing statements for the coroner