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Re X and Y (Delay: Professional Conduct of Expert) - EWHC B9 [2019]
It is rare indeed when a written decision is concerned solely with the actions and inactions of a Court-appointed Expert. In this case the Judge was moved to set down in the public record his findings relating to a medical expert.
X and Y have complex physical disabilities and also complex learning needs. Both of these children will need life-long care. Interim care orders were made by the local authority in 2018.
It was clear that there needed to be an expert medical assessment of X by a consultant paediatrician. On 17 July 2018 permission was granted to the parties jointly to instruct Dr Kathryn Ward. It was ordered that she should report by 26 October. This was then extended to 30 November 2018. It was also ordered that Dr Ward should also undertake a medical assessment on Y.