A legal conference for medical negligence professionals will be held in York in 2024, focusing on women’s health issues including obstetric care, birth trauma and health inequalities.
The one-day event, staged by Hudgell Solicitors, is in its third year and will again provide essential industry-leading medical and legal insights.
Speakers at the October conference include Sally Hatfield and Mary Ruck, KCs at Manchester’s Byrom Street Chambers, Professor Nigel Bundred, Surgical Oncologist at Manchester University NHS Trust and Dr Angeli Thallon, a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Hudgell’s Principal solicitor Elizabeth Maliakal, who heads up the team organising the free event said it promises to be an opportunity for knowledge sharing between industry leaders:
I’m excited about the conference as it’s going to be informative and an opportunity to collaborate and network with experts in their field.
We’re providing a programme which covers a broad spectrum of medical and legal topics that affect women’s health which are relevant to all those involved in medical negligence work, including defendant and claimant lawyers and other stakeholders such as experts and charities.
We are leaders willing to share
Previously, Hudgell’s Clinical Negligence Conferences have taken place in Hull where the firm has its head office. To widen engagement, it decided to move it to York in 2024 to maintain and broaden its Yorkshire roots and share knowledge with delegates from other law firms across the region which operate in the same sector. The focus this year will be on women’s health.
“Hudgells is committed to shining a light on health inequalities, particularly those affecting women. Inequalities are becoming worse as evidenced in the recent report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) inquiry into Birth Trauma, said Elizabeth.
Law firms are dealing with increased cases involving women and issues that affect their health. We hope to shine a light on those issues, campaign to improve women’s healthcare as well as legal outcomes in the unfortunate event that a claim must be made.
A recent report revealed the NHS spent £4bn alone over the last 11 years settling claims involving babies who suffered brain damage when being born, amid claims that maternity units are not learning from mistakes.
The APPG’s report found good care for pregnant women to be ‘the exception rather than the rule’, with ‘poor care all too frequently tolerated as normal’.
Register for the conference today via the link https://forms.office.com/e/KcjtyPCTip
Speakers at the event on Thursday 17th October 2024 at the Principal Hotel Company include:
Sally Hatfield KC of Byrom Street Chambers, Manchester
Sally focuses on claims arising from birth injury, paediatric injury and wrongful birth cases, including those relating to cerebral palsy, concentrating on cases of very severe damage. Sally is also an assistant coroner and editor of BPILS chapter on fatal accidents.
Mary Ruck KC of Byrom Street Chambers
Mary is a hugely popular choice for highly complex fatal delayed diagnosis and gynaecology cases. She has notable experience in birth-related brain injury cases and has a particular interest in the human rights aspect of medical law.
Professor Nigel Bundred – Surgical Oncologist, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
Nigel’s work at the largest unit of its kind in the country, involves management of all types of breast disease as well as thyroid problems. He is the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications concerning all aspects of breast cancer management.
Nigel also undertakes medico-legal work as an expert witness and is a member of the multi-disciplinary team providing evidence to the Paterson Inquiry.
Rachael McGrath, chair of Birth Trauma Association.
BTA is a charity supporting parents who have been psychologically distressed by traumatic birth. It influences policy and contributes to research to improve UK maternity care and raise awareness.
Rachael recently contributed to the recent APPG Birth Trauma Inquiry. She has also provided “lived experience” training to Hudgell Solicitors’ clinical negligence team.
Dr Dharshana Sridhar, Campaign Manager for Spinal Injuries Association.
Dr Sridhar, a former cardiologist, works closely with politicians across the UK to influence policies. The SIA aims to reach everyone with a spinal cord injury and connect them to help and support. Hudgell Solicitors are ‘campaign for change’ partners with the SIA in three important campaigns namely the bowel campaign, pressure sores and women’s health.
Dr Claire Wilson – Chartered Clinical Psychologist, The Psychology Place, Hull.
Claire specialises in PTSD in cases involving domestic violence and birth trauma. She also provides expert witness assessments and therapeutic work as part of rehabilitation during litigation.
Theresa Greenwood, clinical support executive at Hudgell Solicitors.
Theresa is a registered midwife and uses her extensive knowledge to assist our legal teams in understanding and managing obstetric claims. Theresa formally worked as a Lead Clinical Governance and Risk Manager within the NHS and on secondment to the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB).
Kevin Phillips, a consultant gynaecologist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust.
Mr Phillips is a leading expert in the field gynaecology and will be sharing his experience on the “Pitfalls of Gynaecology surgery – a surgeon’s perspective”.
Mr Phillips has almost 30 years of experience working in gynaecology, starting as a consultant in Gynaecology and Obstetrics in 1996, before becoming Chief Medical Officer at Hull University Hospitals Trust from 2015-2018 and then leading the trust’s Endometriosis Centre from inception to 2021. Mr Phillips is past President of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy.
‘This makes such a difference’
Rachel McGrath of the Birth Trauma Association said conferences like these made a difference to clients:
I am so looking forward to speaking at this conference. Hudgells are doing incredible work, training staff in trauma informed practice and truly seeing the person behind the case number.
Speaking from my own experience of a medical negligence case, this makes such a difference. We are incredibly grateful to the medical experts who are giving their time and offering an insight into their work.
This event will focus on helping medical negligence lawyers when considering potential future cases, and in managing existing cases successfully for their clients.
Register via the link today https://forms.office.com/e/KcjtyPCTip
For further information email Elizabeth Maliakal [email protected]
