TRANSPARENCY
Healthcare Counsel is the trading name of Healthcare Counsel Ltd authorised and regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Healthcare Counsel provides specialist legal advice and advocacy in relation to healthcare regulation. Areas of work include:
- CQC inspections and enforcement
- Inquests
- Regulatory investigations
- Safeguarding and contract monitoring
- Fee arrears and commissioning
- Mental capacity and DoLS / LPS
- Care home contracts
Contact Us
The following are invited to contact us for a quote for our barristers’ services:
- Solicitors or other practising lawyers;
- Licensed Access clients, who may either hold a licence issued by the Bar Standards Board, or be a member of a professional body which has been recognised by the Bar Standards Board; and
- Members of the public who wish to instruct a barrister under the Public Access scheme.
We will provide you with a quote as soon as possible. We always aim to set out quotes clearly, but if you receive your quote and there is something you do not understand, please contact us.
Fees
Barristers in chambers most often charge hourly rates. Occasionally, fixed fees may be agreed for contained projects, for example reviewing a contract. Fixed fees will not be charged for cases where it difficult to predict the amount of time that will be needed. Quoted hourly rates are exclusive of VAT which is chargeable in addition. Fees and VAT will both clearly be set out on each issued invoice.
Timescales
Timescales for a case may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the type and complexity of the case, the other side’s approach and timetabling set by courts or Tribunals. We will check any statutory or other deadlines with you on first contact and will only accept the instruction if we are able to meet that deadline.
Public Access
If you are a member of the public, the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients is available here. This will help you to understand how the Public Access scheme works, and explains how you can use it to instruct barristers directly.
Regulatory and Complaints Information
Barristers in Healthcare Counsel are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standards Board’s website here.
This shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy.
Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this (or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).
Its solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, the website of which can be found here.
You can also search the decision data on Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) website here.
This shows providers which received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months, and whether LeO required the provider to give the consumer a remedy. Alternatively, you can contact LeO on 0300 555 0333 to ask about this (or e-mail enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk).
If wish to complain about our services, please contact us.
A copy of our complaint procedure is available here:
If you are dissatisfied with the handling or outcome of the complaint you may refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman:
By phone: 0300 555 0333
By email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
By post: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ.
Please note that the Legal Ombudsman has time limits in which a complaint must be raised with them. You must complain to the Ombudsman within 6 months of receiving a final response to your complaint from us provided the response specifically notifies you of your right to complain to the Ombudsman and of the 6 month time limit. A complaint to the Ombudsman must also be made not more than 6 years after the act or omission complained about or not more than 3 years from the date when you should reasonably have known that there were grounds for complaint.