Your challenges
The health sector is constantly changing. NHS reforms dominate the political agenda and the sector continues to face the challenges of the new Health and Social Care Act 2012, an expanding provider base, the NHS constitution, medical advances, patient expectations and choice, quality outcomes, competition and contestability, large projects, funding changes, re-engineering of services and suppliers and active performance management. Whether as commissioners or providers, you will face some or all of these challenges.
Whatever the issue, we will work closely with you to develop tailored solutions which will deliver both your business objectives and, importantly, patient quality.
Achieving your ambitions
Whatever your health law requirements, we can help. We have a knowledge of both the public and independent sectors and are at the forefront of policy implementation, so we can keep you up to date at all times. We are involved in case law of national importance. Trusted advice is available 24 hours a day 365 days per year. We devise appropriate solutions, quickly, getting it right first time.
Our job is to get the law right, but also to be business-like too. We provide practical solutions for you in a timely manner with an eye on your reputation.
We offer you a full service legal solution. The result is trusted advisors; demonstrable improvements in providing cost effective services; peace of mind with governance and compliance.
The strength you need
We have a network of 15 specialist partners and a team of over 200 lawyers who work for health clients, more than 70 of whom carry out the majority of their work for this sector. We provide an innovative and bespoke approach with a rapid, reliable and cost effective response to your needs.
We work with some of the largest healthcare providers in the UK. Clients include the Department of Health, acute, ambulance, community services, mental health trusts and special health authorities such as NHS Blood and Transplant. We have extensive experience with regulators and inquiries. On top of this we advise local authorities and shared services companies. We also act for a large number of commissioners across England. As the new architecture settles in, we advise a growing list of clinical commissioning groups and have relationships with many of their support organisations.
Beyond the NHS, we advise some of the largest and most active independent sector providers, including hospital groups and domiciliary care providers.
We have links with key influencers in the policy and thinktank sphere, working alongside these groups on joint projects such as reports and policy events.
Our award winning Healthcare Resource Centre, online extranet and Trust Board Secretaries’ and Legal Services networks are just a few of the investments we have made to support you.
Lawyers you can trust
We are ranked in the top tiers for health in Chambers UK and the Legal 500, client guides to the profession. Our clients praise our health team's "in depth knowledge of the health sector" and regard us as "professional yet personable providing comprehensive advice" and say "the response times are remarkable, and the acumen and knowledge excellent" and "they have great experience in healthcare. They understand the way we think and operate."
Health sector clients regard our team as "the top choice for health - whatever you need, they will be able to help". A number of our lawyers are also listed as leaders in their specialist fields.
Chambers UK 2011 - recommended for client service:
"Good oral advice, always backed up with clear written advice." "Friendly, approachable lawyers who are committed to building strong relationships based on a consistent team built around the client."
Chambers UK 2011 - recommended for commercial awareness:
"The best of both worlds - a leading healthcare firm that is also strong across the piste for the full range of commercial services." "Attuned to the sensitivities and issues of the healthcare sector, so adept at finding commercial solutions."
Our tailored inquest service has been shortlisted in the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2012 in the category of value resourcing. Our approach to inquests includes an online portal system that risks assesses inquests and helps our clients to determine when and how to use lawyers. It is supported by a series of online training videos and precedent documents. This external nomination recognises the value of this resource to our clients at a time when there are such enormous pressures on legal budgets. NHS Trusts who want to know more about this service can contact Dawn Brathwaite.
We have partnered with the Health Services Journal on their newly launched commissioning channel – an online channel dedicated to providing news and analysis on commissioning matters. There you can read our analysis on hot topics such as consultations, engaging with CCG boards, the enforceability of penalty clauses and collaborative commissioning between CCGs.