Rowles of MPS to chair Clinical Negligence Debate 2020

Medical Protection Society (MPS) director Melanie Rowles will chair the Clinical Negligence Debate 2020.

Rowles, who is director of delivery service at MPS, will lead the discussion and debate over the course of the one-day conference on 20 February 2020, being held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

In her role at MPS, Rowles leads a global multi-disciplinary team that delivers a world-class claims and non-claims service to members, using a balance of claims management, clinical input, professional and administrative support resources.

The Clinical Negligence Debate 2020 will consider steps to be taken to address claims and improving patient safety. It’s free to attend for practicing solicitors, who can register using this online form.

Over the course of the one-day event, with Rowles as chair, claimant and defendant solicitors will hear from a range of expert speakers on topics such as the discount rate, mediation, fixed costs and the NHS’s work to improve patient safety.

Practicing medical professionals will also provide invaluable insight into the challenges that they face on a daily basis.

The 2020 headline sponsor for the debate is Hayes Medicals.

This year’s debate focused on NHS Resolution’s work and fixed costs reform. Attendees heard from Denise Chaffer of NHS Resolution about the organisation’s work in safer maternity care.

Independent mediator Quentin Smith, as well as NHS Resolution partners Paul Balen of Trust Mediation and Claire Petts of Clyde & Co, participated in a panel discussion on mediation.

Attendees were also treated to an overview of the Civil Justice Council Clinical Negligence Fixed Costs Working Group’s recommendations on fixed recoverable costs in low-value clinical negligence claims, an update on the Civil Liability Act-mandated changes to the personal injury discount rate, and presentations on expert witnesses, alternative solutions to clinical negligence cases, and more.

Mark Dugdale