Susanna Rickard

Call 2009

Susanna Rickard | Call 2009

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Overview

An experienced practitioner in the legal and regulatory framework affecting hospitals, care homes and private clinics. Susanna has experience in all areas of this work, from advising struggling care homes on strategy through to providing representation in tribunal proceedings, prosecutions under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and judicial review of regulatory decisions.  She is very experienced in Care Quality Commission cases and her experience extends to other areas of healthcare regulation, including matters involving the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority).

Healthcare Regulatory

“Very confident, meticulous and fluent as a speaker.”
Chambers & Partners

Susanna is a contributor to the fourth edition of Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law (edited by Christopher Johnston KC and Sophia Roper KC).

EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

CQC and care providers: appeals and tribunal proceedings
Susanna has a vast amount of experience acting for both care providers and the CQC in urgent cancellation cases, appeals against cancellation in the First Tier Tribunal (Care Standards) and on appeal to the Upper Tribunal.  She offers pragmatic advice and can provide direction and a clear lead on a matter at the early stages of regulator action, as well as being an experienced negotiator and advocate at the proceedings stage.

Prosecutions of regulated persons/entities
Susanna has acted in prosecutions against care providers who have failed to comply with conditions, under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (HSCA).  Recently she succeeded in a technical legal argument for the Care Quality Commission concerning the application of s.92 of HSCA, affecting whether or not a husband and wife team could be capable in law of an offence or whether proceedings would need to be amended and brought against the partnership.

Judicial review of regulatory decision-making
Susanna’s wider public law experience includes judicial review of regulatory decision-making. She recently acted for a private hospital that commenced a claim for judicial review against the CQC, following demands for the withdrawal and redesign of the hospital’s seclusion facilities following inspection.  The claim settled in the client’s favour following the drafting of pleadings and advice.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority work
Susanna has experience of claims relating to the HFEA and the fertility clinics it regulates in the UK, and is currently acting as junior counsel in a contract claim brought against a private clinic.