Like any other public service the NHS and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) are subject to legislative control and must operate within an ever changing legal framework.
Legal Services at GOSH
The Legal Services Department provide a comprehensive legal service to the Trust and its employees on any matter relating to Trust business.
The main areas of responsibility are litigation (clinical & non-clinical), employment law, contract law, corporate law and document disclosure. The team manage all cases referred to the coroner and also many issues where the court service or police are involved.
In addition the legal team are available during working hours to provide advice on any matter of a legal nature which relates to the Trust business. The most common day to day requests relate to consent, parental responsibility, child protection, resolving conflict and court orders.
Legal Services Team
There are four members of the team and we are based on Level 2 of the Nurses' Home -
Sophie Pownall
Trust Solicitor
Telephone number: 020 7829 7831
Email: pownas@gosh.nhs.uk
Jonathan Elwood
Legal Advisor
Telephone number: 020 7813 8564
Email: elwooj1@gosh.nhs.uk
Pager 0019 or MP via switch
Ella Leatham
Legal Services Assistant
Telephone number: 020 7829 7926
Email: leathe@gosh.nhs.uk
Karen Mizen
Legal Services Assistant
Telephone number: 020 7813 8567
Email: mizenk@gosh.nhs.uk
Instant guides
Instant guides are available for the following areas and can be obtained by contacting any member of the legal team:
Legal-ease
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 1
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 2
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 3
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 4
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 5
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 6
Legal Ease Vol 1 Issue 7
Legal Ease Vol 2 Issue 1
Legal Ease Vol 2 Issue 2
Information
Corporate Manslaughter
Jehovah's Witnesses
FAQ
Who can give consent?
Anyone aged 18 or over can consent to or refuse any procedure.
Anyone aged 16 or 17 can consent to any procedure but a refusal may be overridden by someone with Parental Responsibility (PR).
Anyone under 16 who is considered by their consultant to be competent may consent to approved procedures but may overridden by someone with PR.
Anyone who has PR may consent or refuse consent (on behalf of the patient).
Consent for therapeutic procedures requires only one person with PR
A court may rule on the lawfullness of a course of treatment
If in doubt contact the legal team.
Who has Parental Responsibility (PR)?
He is married to the mother;
Is named on the birth certificate dated from 1st December 2003;
He has a parental responsibility order either by agreement or by court order;
He has a residence order.
They have a residence order;
They have a court order specifying grant of PR;
If it has an emergency protection order, care order or interim care order.
If in doubt contact the legal team.
The Mother or Father of a patient tell me they have a court order but it isn't in the notes.
Until you have seen the court order or been advised of its contents by the Court, do not assume it exists. Ask the person who told you about it to let you have a copy.
If in any doubt contact the legal team.
I don't understand a Court Order
The order should explain exactly the position it is trying to establish. If it not clear contact the legal team.
