In our annual Forward View we look at some of the key topics for the year ahead ranging from the consultation on the discount rate and claims for provisional damages to the Covid-19 Inquiry and claims against private surgeons.

Claims by elite rugby players for neurological impairments alleged to arise from repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head, are gathering pace.

FRCs in money claims (except clinical negligence) will not be implemented until October 2023 – a second extension of six months on the original timetable.

In this insight we consider tree upcoming court decisions and the impacts of those decisions on the medical malpractice and casualty insurance professionals.

The private sector is using technology to assist the NHS with post-Covid-19 waiting lists and wider resource issues.

While the focus to date has been on the NHS (where the cost of Covid-19 related claims is estimated to be over £1 billion), private surgeons could face claims as well.

The courts’ appetite for making findings of fundamental dishonesty and to give custodial sentences on committal applications, shows no sign of waning.

The government’s response to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority’s 2022 consultation on the future shape of clinical trials is awaited.

The government plans to introduce a Transport Bill this year which is likely to propose legislation to allow the use of private e-scooters on public roads (currently illegal).

Defendants may soon be able to enforce their costs against a claimant’s costs or damages obtained pursuant to a settlement.

We cover the latest on the Covid-19 Inquiry, NHS Resolution's second Early Notifications report, the roll-out of the new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework and the implications of virtual wards.

The recent Privy Council decision in the case of Gulf View Medical Centre Limited v Tesheria [2022] UKPC 38 looked at the question of whether or not two defendants had admitted a duty of care for the others’ care.