Patricia Hitchcock KC > Cloisters > London, England > Barrister Profile

Patricia Hitchcock KC

020 7827 4000 phi@cloisters.com

Work Department

Clinical negligence (either side), personal injury (either side), professional disciplinary and regulatory law, professional negligence, mediation.

Position

Queen’s Counsel. Specialising in complex high-value claims, especially brain and spinal injury, and cases involving children and adolescents. Patricia also works as a mediator, accredited by CEDR since 2003. Recent cases include: P v Central & NW London MHNHS Trust [2014] (clinical negligence/psychiatric management of schizophrenic patient, murder of close family member by patient); Davies v Surrey & Sussex NHS Trust [2013] (clinical negligence/delayed diagnosis of spinal abscess, partial tetraplegia); Re McCormick [2013] (Inquest/clinical mismanagement of liver abscesses with multiple co-morbidities); PFD letter sent to Trust; Russell v West Sussex County Council [2013] (personal injury/complex brain injury with personality change following RTA); McConville v Pancyprian & Anr [2013] (personal injury/seven-figure settlement for RTA in Cyprus/complex brain injury/multiple injuries); Papworth v Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust [2012] (clinical negligence/liability and quantum in issue/fatal leaving infant and husband with pre-existing spinal injury/rare blood disorder (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) (mediation); RWRO v 2 GPs [2012] (clinical negligence/ misdiagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage/ paraplegia and cognitive damage/ all parties anonymised); U v Dr Sarker & St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust [2011] (clinical negligence/ misdiagnosis of infant bronchiolitis/catastrophic brain damage); Davis v. Epsom & St. Helier NHS Trust [2011] (clinical negligence/birth brain damage, C now 18; breach of duty admitted but major causation and quantum issues); AXL v. Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust [2010] (clinical negligence/very severely brain damaged infant, crucial birth records missing, disputes of fact, major causation issues); Chapman v. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2010] (clinical negligence/misdiagnosis of breast cancer); Bridges v Keogh [2010] (personal injury/severe adult brain damage and paraplegia/complex quantum and structuring issues); Rand v Redhead [2010] (personal injury/tetraplegia/lump sum and PPO); Chapman v Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2010] (clinical negligence/delayed diagnosis of breast cancer resulting in severely reduced life expectancy; C v Dixon [2009] Lawtel Case Code ACO121429 (personal injury/severe brain damage and organic personality change/complex care issues); Curry v Charteris [2009] (personal injury/RTA with 2/3 contributory negligence/severe brain damage and knee injury); Cadman v Clark [2009] (personal injury/disputed liability RTA/catastrophic brain damage to teenager); Burch v Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2009] (clinical negligence/premature mobilisation post-RTA causing C7 paralysis); Quenum v University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust [2009] (clinical negligence/wrongful birth/sickle cell anaemia testing); Houghton v Houghton [2009] (personal injury/severe infant brain damage; complex periodical payments dispute); Sehman v Thorpe [2009] (personal injury/catastrophic adult brain damage); Yefet v Central & NW London Mental Health NHS Trust [2008] (clinical negligence/serious assault on psychiatric ward by fellow patient); Weighman v Robinson [2008] (personal injury/infant RTA brain damage; hemiparesis; complex financial issues); Willis v County Durham & Tees Valley Health Authority [2008] (clinical negligence/cerebral palsy); Watkins v Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust [2008] (clinical negligence/fatal claim following mismanagement of non-negligent brain injury); Sowter v Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust [2008] (clinical negligence/isolated limb perfusion for melanoma); Dei-Ceci v Armstrong [2008], catastrophic brain injury, settlement included indexation premium.

Career

Called 1988; appointed deputy chair (to Arthur Davidson QC) of a public inquiry into health provision in the Banbury area, instructed by the four relevant health bodies, 1996; conducted training sessions for medical experts in association with the BMJ in 1996 and 1997, and with AvMA in 1998; chaired AvMA conferences 2001, 2004 and 2006; appointed Queen’s Counsel 2011; co-author of limitation section in ‘Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service’ and of the 7th edition of ‘Clinical Negligence’ for Bloomsbury.

Languages

Working knowledge French, German.

Memberships

Bar Pro Bono Group; AvMA Lawyer’s Group; Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; MIND Legal Network; Personal Injuries Bar Association; Inquest Lawyers Group.

Education

Westminster School; Brasenose College, Oxford (BA Hons English Language and Literature); City University (Dip Law).