General description of the work Consultant Microbiologists undertake
Consultant Microbiologists are usually doctors (although there are some non-medically qualified Microbiologists). They deal with the management, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infections and infections diseases. They deal with infections such as MRSA (Methycillin Resistant Staph Aurus), Salmonella, food safety and food poisoning, wound infection, Legionaire’s Disease and meningitis.
They advise on antibiotic resistance, on the prevention of the spread of infection and on the most effective antibiotic prescribing for treatment of infections.


Most common clinical areas / procedures leading to a claim of clinical negligence
• MRSA infections
• hospital acquired infections
• wound infections
• mismanagement of infection diagnosis and treatment
• problems with antibiotic prescribing for infections


Sub-Specialities / Alternative and Additional job titles
The Consultant Microbiologist may also be known as a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist or a Consultant Medical Microbiologist.


Usual Qualifications
The medically qualified Consultant Microbiologists will have FRCPath (Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Pathologists) after their names.


Academic Appointments
The Consultant Microbiologist may be a Lecturer or Professor in Microbiology at a Medical School. He/She may be an Examiner for the Royal College of Pathologists.


Our Experts
The Consultant Microbiologists who prepare reports on medical negligence cases on our behalf are all experienced NHS Consultants. They are in active clinical practice and they are experienced at preparing medico-legal reports. They are willing to attend Court in the UK and Ireland provided that they are given enough notice and that their fees and expenses for attending are agreed in advance.
Each of the Consultant Microbiologists who prepare reports on our behalf has particular areas of clinical interest within his/her practice and we match each case with the most appropriate Consultant.


The Report
The Consultant Microbiologists prepare their Reports for the benefit of the Courts. In other words, they prepare unbiased Reports in order to help the Court to decide the case, rather than to help one side or the other.
The Consultant Microbiologists examine all the documentation and details of the case and look at the standard of care that the Client received. They then give their opinion on whether or not the standard of care that the Client received fell below the standard of care he/she should have received.
Where necessary they provide background documentation and information to back-up their opinion.


Documentation required
The most important documentation is the Client’s Hospital Records. This documentation will usually contain their Doctors’ Records, the Laboratory Investigations and Results, Operation Records, Nursing Records, Out-Patient Clinic Records, and Correspondence.
There may be copies or X-rays or CT or MRI scans. If these are related to the event in dispute then copies of these will be of help to the Consultant Microbiologist when he/she is preparing his/her Report.
An account of events by the Client and/or the Client’s family will be of assistance to the Consultant Microbiologist. Copies of the Client’s Attendances with their Solicitor will also help to clarify the areas of care that are at issue in the case.


Time-scale for the Report
Once we have confirmation to proceed with the Report the Consultant Microbiologists can usually prepare their Reports within 8 to 10 weeks. If a Report is needed urgently we will endeavour to have it prepared sooner than this.


Price of the Report
Once we receive all the documentation we will provide you with a quotation for the price of the Report from the Consultant Microbiologist. If you decide to go ahead with the Report we will have it prepared and we will forward it to you on receipt of payment.
If you decide not to go ahead with the Report after receiving the quotation we will return all the documentation to you and there is no charge.


Queries on the Report / Addendums
The Reports from the Consultant Microbiologists are usually very clear and give a concise opinion on the standard of care the Client received.
If minor clarifications are needed then these will be provided at no extra cost.
If, after the Report has been completed, additional documentation needs to be examined by the Consultant Microbiologist or if additional work needs to be done in order to provide an Addendum to the Report, then there may be an additional charge. If so, we will inform you of this and only proceed with your approval.


Client Examination
The Consultant Microbiologists do not normally need to see the Client in order to prepare a Report on the standard of care he/she has received. They can usually prepare their Report from the case notes and other documentation.
If the case does progress and a Report is needed on the Client’s current medical condition and/or prognosis for the future, then the Client may need to be seen by the Consultant Microbiologist for an examination and we can make the necessary arrangements.