We have been providing medico-legal services since 2007 which includes both face-to-face and remote examinations. We typically provide appointments within 2 working days of receiving an instruction and usually see claimants within 2 to 3 weeks. Completed psychological reports are typically returned within 5 to 7 working days of the examination.

Medico-legal claims should not just be about injured bodies but also injured minds which can result in psychological incapacity and disability. My typical psychological examination considers a range of 18 common psychological reactions to a traumatic event with additional identification of individualised personal reactions. 

Validated psychometric assessments are typically used e.g. Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IESR), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) and The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 with Criterion A. 

I seek to report my findings in a clear reader friendly yet robust manner which is free from jargon or overly technical language. My reports are compliant with Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Information Commissioners Office (ICO) regulations with provision of DSM-5 or ICD-10 based diagnostics wherever possible. My team seeks to provide appointments within 2 days of instructions and to return reports within 10 working days of examinations. I complete on average 600-700 psychological reports per year. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic we conducted many remote examinations, typically by WhatsApp,Facetime and Skype which provided us with the opportunity to develop this aspect of the practice. Remote examinations have proven to be highly convenient for claimants with physical and psychological symptoms as they have not had to travel to consulting rooms. We continue to offer a national remote examination service.