On the Road with Nick Delaney - June 2023

My travels this quarter took myself and my colleague Peter Sweeney to the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers’ (SCIL) annual conference and AGM, which this year was held at Millennium Point in Birmingham.

This is the second time the SCIL event has been held at this venue and it really is an excellent location. There was an undoubted ‘frisson’ of excitement from all the delegates as they went off to watch the opening speaker, none other than BAFTA-winning author, comedian and former junior doctor Adam Kay whose best-selling memoir ‘This is Going to Hurt’ has recently been turned into a successful TV series.

Speakers also included Jack and Sarah Hawkins who tragically lost baby daughter Harriet due to failings by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. The couple’s fight for justice has led to an independent review of maternity services in Nottingham, which is ongoing, and has seen 900 families come forward so far, making it the UK’s biggest maternity scandal to date.  

With over 50 firms represented at the conference, it was well attended, and the content of the programme was thoughtful, practical and entertaining.

We decided to roll back the years on our exhibition stand this year and challenged delegates to try their skills at surgery before entering their names into our prize draw. Not actual surgery, of course, but using the board game ‘Operation’ which for many brought back images of their childhood. It is fair to say the level of skill on display was mixed but the enthusiasm trying to remove a funny bone or Charlie Horse was spectacular. As usual the F4L goody bags proved to be very popular, particular the Kinder Eggs.

All in all, it was an excellent day with the chance to catch up with several panel firms and meet some new ones. I hope to catch up with many more of you over the coming summer months.