Solicitors’ letters regarding ‘mask discrimination’

We are aware that practices are being contacted by solicitors’ firms seeking damages for patients for “discrimination in relation to mask wearing and access to care”. The following advice may be helpful for practices in order to identify the reasonableness of such claims:

  1. Check the solicitor/firm is real using the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website.
  2. The SRA’s “scam alerts” for the public and businesses are also helpful.
  3. Report the matter directly to the SRA if you think a firm or anyone regulated by the SRA has breached an SRA Principle. There are seven Principles that all people and law firms regulated by SRA must meet. This means that they must act:
    • in a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice
    • in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons
    • with independence
    • with honesty
    • with integrity
    • in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion
    • in the best interests of each client.
  4. There are two Codes of Conduct which outline the professional standards expected. The first Code of Conduct is for regulated solicitors, and lawyers from overseas. The second Code of Conduct is for regulated firms. This sets out requirements for those firms, the people who manage them, and other employees who work in them.
  5. Should you wish to report the solicitor or firm to the SRA, instructions on how to do this are here. When reporting: set out your concerns clearly, identify individuals you consider responsible, attach any evidence you have in support. Complete a report form and send to report@sra.org.uk.
  6. For guidance on the complaints process, call the SRA contact centre. They cannot provide advice about your issue, but can point you in the right direction.

The following resources may also be helpful:

Last updated : 12 Jul 2021

 

BMA Ballot (19 Sep 2017)

GP leaders are to use a BMA survey, revealing more than half of practices are willing to close lists to new patients due to workload pressure, to push the Government to...
Read more »

Cyber Essentials (19 Sep 2017)

Cyber Essentials is a government and industry supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber-attacks. The award of a Cyber Essentials certificate to Londonwide LMCs should assure you...
Read more »

Website review survey (19 Sep 2017)

We know how important a good website is in communicating with our GPs and practice teams. As our current site has been around for some time we would like your...
Read more »

Practice Managers’ Blended Learning Programme (19 Sep 2017)

Londonwide LMCs are delighted to be launching a brand new blended learning programme for general practice managers at the Practice Manager Conference taking place this November.  The innovative course, which...
Read more »

Extended access data collection now open (19 Sep 2017)

As NHS England will have informed you recently, the third bi-annual extended access collection is now open for submission until the end of Friday 29 September 2017. As set out...
Read more »

MDO reimbursement (indemnity) (19 Sep 2017)

Londonwide LMCs Guidance for Sessional GPs and Indemnity Reimbursements from NHS England As part of the...
Read more »

Electronic Referral System: help or hindrance? (19 Sep 2017)

First, we had choose and book, now this has morphed into electronic referral system (eRS).  This is a system that is being pushed by NHSE as part of the digital...
Read more »

Updated statement for practices using TPP SystmOne (19 Sep 2017)

Following detailed discussions between the ICO, TPP, NHS Digital and NHS England, TPP has now identified some changes which are intended to address the ICO’s concerns about the fair and...
Read more »

Primary care working at scale Master Classes in September (24 Aug 2017)

There are a series of Master Classes throughout September which will support GP providers in their journey and development as Working at Scale organisations. The events have been organised...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page