Reforming the delivery of health expert evidence

On this page:

Applications open to take part in pilot
About the application process
Benefits of this approach
For more information

Applications open to take part in pilot

We're inviting NHS Trusts and other public, private or voluntary organisations to apply to take part in setting up a pilot. This project sees multi-disciplinary teams presenting jointly instructed health expert witness services in Public Law Childcare Proceedings.

Successful applicants will make available a team of health professionals (including as a minimum psychiatrists and psychologists) to:

carry out assessments
write reports
attend court hearings as required by individual cases.

Each team will have a team co-ordinator who will:

be the point of contact with solicitors
determine whether the team has the capacity to undertake instructions
if so distribute work amongst the team appropriately.

The application process

Applications opened on 18 June. The closing date is 17.00 on the 23rd July.

See Documents for:

information for applicants
application form
questions and answers, which will be updated regularly

Benefits of this approach

This approach to procuring expert witness services has these benefits:

easier for health professionals to get engaged as health expert witnesses
sustainable increase in the supply of quality-assured expert witnesses
easier and quicker for solicitors and clients to access health expert witnesses
fewer delays in the provision of expert reports for the benefit of the child
improved quality-assurance through peer review and multi-disciplinary input
best use of public funds.

For more information

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Emily Paddy.

>back to top

Last updated: 08 July 2008