We cover the latest on the Covid-19 Inquiry, recommendations from the Ockenden report and NHS Resolution's thematic reviews of clinical negligence claims in emergency medicine, diabetes and lower limb complications, plus an analysis of anaesthesia claims.

On 28 June, the Prime Minister set the Terms of Reference of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which means that the Inquiry has been formally established under the Inquiries Act 2005. Find out the key changes, topics and next step for the Inquiry in our insight.

Read the latest on the COVID-19 Inquiry and themes for Covid-related inquests and claims. Also: the government’s response to the Paterson Inquiry report, proposals for a new Special Health Authority and managing risk around the expansion of virtual wards.

In this year’s forward view, we consider issues ranging from fixed recoverable costs in clinical negligence claims, claims resulting from COVID-19 treatment, major inquiries, clinical trials and healthcare technology.

This year is likely to see a resurgence of non-Covid trials which have been postponed or paused in the last two years, and new trials for Covid treatments and vaccines (e.g. those based on conventional vaccine technology).

Read the latest developments regarding the impending Public Inquiry, including what this means for you.

Delays to non-Covid treatment is the leading type of claim against NHS Trusts to date, followed by Hospital-Acquired Covid (HAC) and failure to treat Covid appropriately.

The vast majority of the inquest cases relate to acquisition of Covid-19 during hospital admission and staffing/resource issues. In a recent case a Coroner was critical of a decision not to escalate a patient’s care to ICU.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose significant workforce issues for healthcare organisations regarding the services they provide and the risks to staff. Here we share our FAQs in relation to these policies and communications with staff generally.

NHSEI has shared operational guidance on preparing and implementing the new regulation requiring providers of regulated healthcare services to ensure that certain workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Welcome to the autumn edition of our Clinical Law Insight. Hospital-acquired Covid-19 infections have been a more significant cause of death than previously appreciated. We consider how you can prepare for claims and for the Public Inquiry due in 2022.

New mandatory COVID-19 vaccine regulations for health and social care settings in England will come into force on 1 April 2022. Find out which actions you need to take in our insight.