About me
I bring over 15 years’ experience to my role as a partner in Hill Dickinson’s Healthcare and Public Law team. During this time, I’ve supported NHS bodies and healthcare providers through Court of Protection cases, inquests and complex mental capacity issues.
I regularly act in high-profile Article 2 inquests, including the inquest into the death of Peter Coonan (the Yorkshire Ripper), where it was especially rewarding to help staff navigate media pressure and be commended on the quality of care delivered. As well as lecturing widely on the Mental Capacity Act and deprivation of liberty, I advise on the Mental Health Act, continuing healthcare and personal health budgets.
My calm, collaborative approach gives me the ability to guide clients through highly sensitive, technical matters with clarity and compassion.
My family are my world and honeymooning in Cornwall, travelling by coach and rural train, remains a blissful highlight.
My experience
- Requested by NHS England to conduct training to local teams to support the role out of changes to the consent process when dealing with NHS Continuing Healthcare.
- In 2023, I dealt with the first Court of Protection case relating to an application for divorce being sought by a litigation friend on behalf of the husband. That case established the key legal principles to be applied in this scenario which created a new legal precedent. D -v- S [2023] EWCOP 8 (01 March 2023).
- Represented a Clinical Commissioning Group in the reported Court of Protection case dealing with the withdrawal of life sustaining nutrition and hydration from a woman in MCS. This was the first such case since the Supreme Court decision in Re Y and confirmed that court involvement was still necessary where there was a dispute about best interests.
- A Clinical Commissioning Group v P (Withdrawal of CANH) [2019] EWCOP 18 (22 May 2019).
- Represented a children’s hospital trust in an application for approval of cancer treatment for a boy, where this was being opposed by his father.
- Represented Spectrum at the inquest into the death of Peter Coonan (the Yorkshire Ripper).
