Legal News
Cervical Smear Test Debacle
13th December 2018
Following on from the article posted on 15 November 2018 titled “Thousands caught up in ‘appalling’ cervical screening blunder,” it has emerged that since this issue was last reported on an additional 3,591 women have not received information about NHS cervical cancer screening!Capita, the company c…
Independent review of Mental Health Act calls for reform
7th December 2018
An Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983, chaired by Professor Sir Simon Wessely – Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King’s College London and president of the Royal Society of Medicine, has set out recommendations for government on how the Act and associated practice needs to change.The…
Leading mental health lawyer invites new chief executive to meet as trust goes into special measures again
28th November 2018
A leading lawyer has invited the new chief executive of a failing mental health trust to meet her, to discuss 18 years’ experience of dealing with families bereaved because of the trust’s constant failings.Sharon Allison is a partner with Ashtons Legal, and over almost two decades has worked on many…
Updated DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness issued
26th November 2018
The Driver Vehicle and Standards Agency has published an updated Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness version of the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness that all operators and their maintenance teams (including external maintenance providers) need to have and follow. The revision contains previo…
Self-driving vehicles – who is responsible if you have an accident?
23rd November 2018
The age of ‘driverless’ cars is nearly upon us. Funnily enough, it’s internet giant Google that’s been leading the way, developing truly driverless vehicles that don’t even have a steering wheel you can grab hold of if things start to go sideways. However, the development of driverless cars has brou…
When ‘Banter’ crosses over into abuse
22nd November 2018
“It’s just a bit of bants!” If you work in any kind of environment, from an office to a building site, you’ll be familiar with the term ‘banter’. It’s that humorous back and forth we all use to make the day a little brighter, to have a joke and a laugh with our colleagues, and to generally brighten…
Whistleblowers and the NHS
22nd November 2018
Changes to how NHS whistleblowers are treated are to be introduced in response to the patient deaths scandal at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, the health secretary has promised. More than 450 patients died between 1987 and 2001 after being prescribed dangerous doses of pain-killing drugs. Matt Hanc…
If it’s broke, be sure to fix it
22nd November 2018
In August 2018, the Government announced a crackdown on rogue directors seeking to trade insolvent companies. With high profile businesses still dominating the headlines for poor financial performance, Alexander Curnow looks at the employee risks involved.So, what do you do when business isn’t going…
Major Care Provider seeking to transfer or sell its contracts
16th November 2018
A major UK home care provider, offering support to 13,000 older and disabled people, is seeking to transfer or sell all its contracts to other providers. Allied Healthcare was warned this month by the care regulator about its financial sustainability.Since then, some local authorities have already…
Thousands caught up in ‘appalling’ cervical screening blunder
15th November 2018
More than 40,000 women in England have not received information regarding cervical cancer screening after a failure to send out letters by the NHS.The errors were made between January and June.Around 4,000 letters included results of tests, the remainder were inviting patients for screening or remin…
Too many baby deaths avoidable, report into NHS finds
13th November 2018
The Each Baby Counts project has recently focused on the analysis of cases of stillbirth, neonatal death and babies born with brain damage and investigating the potential factors contributing to these. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have assisted by carrying out an inquiry int…
Automated Vehicles: who’s in charge?
12th November 2018
Further proposals about how automated vehicles will be operated and regulated have just been published in a new Law Commission consultation. It contains very important material with regard to safety, criminal and civil liability and the role of humans when in charge of vehicles or being carried by t…
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