About

Dr James Backshall is a UK-based Specialist Doctor in Stroke Medicine working within a Hyperacute Stroke Unit at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Clinical Practice

Dr Backshall works full-time in stroke medicine, undertaking acute stroke assessment, thrombolysis decision-making, and management of complex stroke presentations. He is actively involved in time-critical frontline decision-making within a Hyperacute Stroke Unit. His clinical practice includes independent interpretation of CT and MRI imaging in acute stroke.

Governance and Case Review

Dr Backshall has extensive experience in retrospective case analysis through:

• Mortality review

• Serious Incident investigation

• Clinical governance processes

• SSNAP data analysis

• Stroke pathway improvement

He has previously held leadership roles including Joint Mortality Lead and continues to contribute to service development and quality improvement.

Medico-Legal Advisory Practice

Dr Backshall provides independent medico-legal advisory input in adult stroke cases. His work focuses on early-stage case assessment, helping legal teams understand complex clinical scenarios and identify key issues. This may include consideration of:

• Whether care fell below a reasonable standard

• Whether delays or decisions may have been causative

• Whether a case may warrant formal expert opinion

Qualifications and Registration

Bachelor of Medicine – University of Newcastle
Master of Chemistry – University of Oxford

Full GMC registration with licence to practise
GMC Number: 7332393