Clerk Details
- Clerk Name: Mark Heath
- Clerk Telephone: 0330 332 0773
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Public and Administrative Law
Richard has extensive experience in healthcare regulatory work. He principally acts for the General Medical Council in its fitness to practice panels. He also defends in cases before the disciplinary panels of the General Dental Council, the Health Professions Council and the General Osteopathic Council. He has experience of Legal Assessing with the鈥疦ursing & Midwifery Council panels. In addition to his healthcare work Richard has acted for registered providers (such as care homes, care home managers and nurseries) in Care Standards Tribunal cases.
In his GMC work Richard has acted in a number of high profile cases, including the prosecution of medical experts engaged in child protection cases, such as Professor Southall (in one case over his involvement in the Sally Clark murder case after watching a television programme, and in another over his behaviour towards certain parents and his keeping of 鈥渟ecret鈥 files on a number of his child patients), and Dr Paterson (whose 鈥渟pecialism鈥 was in temporary brittle bone disease). He has prosecuted doctors of many disciplines with wide ranging allegations of misconduct - from a consultant psychiatrist鈥檚 treatment of transsexuals to a consultant gynaecologist鈥檚 treatment of, and fraudulent behaviour towards, her fertility patients.
Richard鈥檚 healthcare regulatory work is both advisory and in front of panels. This involves a thorough grasp of the law and practice in this developing area.
Notable cases
- Dr David Southall v The General Medical Council [2009] EWHC 1155 (Admin) in the Administrative Court
- Dr David Southall v The General Medical Council [2010] EWCA Civ 409 in the Court of Appeal
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Recommendations 'Recognised for his聽advocacy in聽healthcare-related professional discipline matters,聽including both the聽defence and prosecution of healthcare professionals.聽He is also experienced in prosecuting on behalf of the GMC, and advocating for clients聽before聽Fitness to Practice Panels.
Recent work: Acted for聽the GMC聽in GMC v Dr Grant, a case concerning a private GP鈥檚 incompetent involvement in a child sexual abuse case.'
Chambers UK 2017/Professional Discipline - The Regions (Bar) - Band 2'Reputed in medical and social care disciplinary actions. He frequently prosecutes before the GMC鈥檚 Medical Practitioners鈥 Tribunal Service
Strengths:鈥"He is a solid practitioner鈥痺ho鈥痜ights for his clients but in an articulate way." "He's a bright and astute advocate who doesn't take stupid points."'
Chambers UK 2016/Professional Discipline - The Regions (Bar) - Band 2'regularly prosecutes fitness to practice cases on behalf of the GMC.
Expertise:鈥"He deals with a difficult case with aplomb."
Recent work: Represented the GMC at the Court of Appeal in relation to disciplinary proceedings against鈥痑 doctor who faced a number of allegations, including accusing a mother of murdering her child.'
Chambers UK 2015/Professional Discipline 鈥 The Regions'has a strong reputation in the medical and social care disciplinary sector. He regularly prosecutes before the鈥疓MC鈥檚 MPTS.'
Chambers UK 2014/Professional Disciplines 鈥 The Regions'For his professional discipline expertise at the London Bar. Richard 鈥"knows what he is doing" when it comes to medical and social care disciplinary cases and is "impeccably fair" according to sources. He frequently prosecutes before the GMC鈥檚 MPTS'
Chambers UK 2013'...received due recognition for the quality of his work before the GMC and the Care Standards Tribunal. His client care skills are described 鈥痑re descried as 鈥渆xceptional鈥 and solicitors 鈥渓ook forward to instructing him鈥.'
Chambers UK 2012鈥楬is practice covers the spectrum of family law cases.鈥
Legal 500 2017/Regional Bar - Western Circuit,聽Family and children law 鈥 Leading juniors鈥楻ecommended for brain damage cases.鈥
Legal 500 2017/Regional Bar - Western Circuit, Personal injury and clinical negligence 鈥 Leading juniors鈥榁ery experienced in healthcare work.鈥
Legal 500 2017/Regional Bar - Western Circuit, Regulatory, health and safety, and licensing 鈥 Leading juniors'He presents with great skills and sensitivity"
Legal 500 2016/Regional Bar - Western Circuit:
Family and children law 鈥 Leading juniors
Regulatory, health and safety, and licensing 鈥 Leading juniors
Personal injury and clinical negligence 鈥 Leading juniors'He has excellent client communication skills'
Legal 500 2015/Regional Bar - Western Circuit:
Family and children law 鈥 Leading juniors
Regulatory, health and safety, and licensing 鈥 Leading juniors
Personal injury and clinical negligence 鈥 Leading juniors'A clinical negligence specialist who principally represents claimants in cases involving severe injuries.'
Legal 500 2014/South Eastern Circuit, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence expertise鈥榓 master of his brief鈥
Legal 500 UK Directory 2013/14 - Western Circuit, Family.
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