Advisory Services

Stroke Medical Consulting provides independent medico-legal advisory opinions in adult stroke cases. These opinions support legal teams at an early stage by clarifying complex clinical issues, including potential breach of duty, causation, and the impact of delays in stroke care. Initial case screening is typically completed within 3–7 working days.

How this service is used

Legal teams may seek an advisory opinion to:

• Assess whether there may have been a delay in diagnosis or treatment

• Understand whether thrombolysis or other interventions should have been considered

• Explore whether any identified issues may have affected outcome

• Decide whether to proceed with a full medico-legal report

• Obtain specialist stroke input before formal expert instruction
  

Services

Initial Case Screening:

Recommended starting point for most cases

A short, focused clinical review to assess the key issues in a stroke case.

• Identifies potential breach of duty and causation issues

• Highlights delays in diagnosis, imaging, or treatment

• Reviews clinical timelines and decision-making

• Flags missing records or key information

• Provides a clear steer on whether a case may have merit

Turnaround: 3 - 7 working days

Suitable for early-stage case assessment prior to formal expert instruction.

Detailed Clinical Advisory Opinion

More in-depth review of medical records where a case requires detailed clinical analysis.

• Full review of documentation

• Detailed analysis of breach of duty and clinical decision-making

• In-depth consideration of causation and outcome

• Review of stroke pathways, including delays in diagnosis, imaging, and treatment

• Structured evaluation of contributing factors

• Supports progression to formal expert evidence where appropriate, including preparation for Part 35 instruction.

Timescale: agreed based on case size and complexity

Most clients begin with an initial case screening review before progressing to more detailed advisory input where required.

Common case types include:

• Missed or delayed diagnosis of stroke

• Failure to recognise stroke symptoms or evolving neurological deficits

• Delay in imaging (CT or MRI) or interpretation of imaging findings

• Delay in referral to, or review by, stroke specialist services

• Thrombolysis decision-making, including timing and eligibility

• Hyperacute stroke management and early clinical decision-making

• Stroke pathway and systems delays, including triage and inter-hospital transfer

• Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

What an advisory opinion includes:

• Review of relevant medical records and documentation

• Structured timeline of key clinical events

• Identification of key clinical issues

• Clear, reasoned opinion on breach of duty and/or causation where appropriate

• Concise summary to support decision-making

Expertise

• Hyperacute stroke assessment and thrombolysis decision-making

• Retrospective case review through mortality review and Serious Incident investigation

• Stroke pathway delays, including imaging and treatment timelines

• Clinical governance, audit, and service improvement within NHS stroke services

• Experience derived from frontline NHS stroke practice within a Hyperacute Stroke Unit.

Scope of service

Services are currently focused on independent advisory opinions at pre-litigation and early litigation stage.

Court-compliant Part 35 reporting and court attendance are not currently offered.