The Nottingham Ockenden report (2026): Key findings and implications for clinical negligence practitioners

The Nottingham Ockenden report (2026): Key findings and implications for clinical negligence practitioners Marcus Coates-Walker & Robert Mills THE NOTTINGHAM OCKENDEN REPORT (2026) Background On 24 June 2026, Donna Ockenden published her report into maternity and neonatal services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). It is the largest maternity…

Secondary victims: once again the Court declines to distinguish Paul

Secondary victims: once again the Court declines to distinguish Paul Judith Rogerson (1) BJS (By His Mother & Litigation Friend SXS) (2) SXS v (1) Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust (2) North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (unreported) In BJS, a claim where a mother (the…

Maternity report

Maternity report Jo Moore & Amelia Williams On 26 February 2026, Baroness Amos published her Interim Report as Chair of the independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The Investigation was set up in June 2025 to drive urgent improvements in patient care and safety. Evidence has been gathered via engagement…

The application of Paul – strike out of a secondary victim claim in clinical negligence case

The application of Paul – strike out of a secondary victim claim in clinical negligence case Richard Smith MIM v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 562 (KB) (17 March 2026) This case appears to be the first reported determination of a claim seeking damages as a Secondary…

Birth injuries and expert evidence

Birth injuries and expert evidence Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC OAJ By His Mother and Litigation Friend CFT v Dorset County Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2025] EWHC 3345 This is the third birth damage case in just over 3 years in which Mr Justice Ritchie has been the trial Judge. The other…

Child Abuse and Scope of Duty of Medical Practitioners

Child Abuse and Scope of Duty of Medical Practitioners Rajkiran Arhestey Conway v Yeovil District Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & Anor [2025] EWHC 2488 (KB) In this sad case, Turner J considered the scope of duty of hospital doctors towards a baby who was the victim of an assault perpetrated…

Public Authorities and Negligence: Lessons from Tindall v Chief Constable

Public Authorities and Negligence: Lessons from Tindall v Chief Constable Lucy McCann Introduction On 23 October 2024, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Tindall v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2024] UKSC 33, the latest in a recent series of appellate court decisions regarding the liability of…

High Court Rejects ‘Failure to Remove’ Abuse Claim

DFX v Coventry City Council [2021] EWHC 1382 (QB) In a significant adverse judgment for child abuse claimants, Mrs Justice Lambert rejected a claim brought by a number of Claimants who alleged that the Defendant council’s social services negligently delayed in instigating care proceedings and that, had they been removed…