In psychiatric negligence claims, early delays in expert instruction can have a disproportionate impact on the trajectory and cost of a case. This was particularly true for a claimant firm acting in a complex matter involving alleged failures in mental health care following discharge from an acute psychiatric unit.

The claimant suffered a marked deterioration in their mental health shortly after discharge, culminating in serious self-harm and long-term psychological injury. The solicitors needed early, authoritative expert input to assess breach of duty, causation and prognosis before the case progressed further - and before unnecessary costs were incurred.

What Made the Case Challenging

The legal team identified an immediate need for two distinct expert disciplines:

• A Consultant Psychiatrist to address diagnosis, risk assessment at discharge, breach of duty and causation

• A Consultant Clinical Psychologist to assess psychological injury, prognosis, and future treatment needs

The case involved complex community care issues, suicide risk assessment, and trauma-related psychological harm. The solicitors were working to a tight pre-action timetable and were conscious that delays in securing the right experts could stall early liability discussions and increase unrecoverable costs.

Critically, the firm needed certainty - not just about expertise, but about availability. Any delay caused by unsuitable nominations or late expert withdrawals would have had a direct knock-on effect on costs and case momentum.

INNEG’s Response

INNEG was instructed to source and secure the appropriate experts as a matter of urgency. Our team clarified the clinical and legal issues and refined the expert criteria to reflect the specific risks associated with post-discharge psychiatric care and trauma-related psychological injury.

Targeted searches were undertaken for a Consultant Psychiatrist with experience in community mental health and risk management, alongside a Consultant Clinical Psychologist experienced in medico-legal reporting on complex psychiatric injury.

By proactively contacting experts and managing availability and conflict checks in parallel, INNEG delivered a shortlist of suitable experts in under 24 hours. Both experts were confirmed as available to proceed within the required timeframe and were instructed without delay, supported by a clear clinical summary to enable immediate progress.

The Outcome

The early instruction of the correct psychiatry and psychology experts allowed the solicitors to progress the claim decisively at a critical stage. Expert input was secured far earlier than anticipated, supporting early evaluation of liability and quantum and preventing avoidable delays in the pre-action phase.

By removing uncertainty around expert availability and suitability, the legal team avoided the time and cost associated with repeated expert enquiries, late-stage changes, and stalled case progression.

This case demonstrates how INNEG helps solicitors accelerate claims and reduce unrecoverable costs. By securing the right experts quickly, managing clinical complexity, and acting as a single point of contact throughout the instruction process, we enable legal teams to move cases forward with confidence.