A medico-legal psychiatric report is a formal, expert-written document used in legal proceedings, providing an independent psychiatric evaluation of an individual’s mental health. At Harley Street Mental Health, our consultant psychiatrists produce detailed medico-legal reports for a wide range of cases, including personal injury claims, employment disputes, immigration matters, family law proceedings, and criminal cases.

All medico-legal reports are prepared by experienced consultant psychiatrists who are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and trained as expert witnesses. Our psychiatrists have extensive experience in providing clear, objective, court-compliant reports that meet legal standards for accuracy, impartiality, and clarity.

We provide medico-legal reports for a wide variety of cases, including:

• Personal injury claims (e.g., PTSD, depression following an accident)
• Employment tribunal cases (e.g., workplace stress, psychiatric injury)
• Criminal court reports (e.g., fitness to plead, psychiatric mitigation)
• Family law reports (e.g., parenting capacity assessments)
• Immigration and asylum cases (e.g., psychological impact of trauma)
• Capacity and fitness assessments (e.g., testamentary capacity)

If you require a specific type of psychiatric report, our team will match you with the most appropriately experienced expert.

Yes. Our medico-legal psychiatric reports are fully compliant with Civil Procedure Rules Part 35 (CPR Part 35) and relevant legal standards. Each report is independent, impartial, and suitable for use in court proceedings, tribunals, and other legal forums.

Typically, medico-legal psychiatric reports are completed within 2 to 4 weeks after the assessment, depending on the complexity of the case and the volume of documentation to review. We can also offer expedited reports on request if urgent timescales are required.

The process includes a detailed psychiatric interview, review of relevant medical records, mental state examination, and careful consideration of the legal questions posed. Our psychiatrist will assess diagnosis, causation, prognosis, and functional impact, depending on the case requirements.
The assessment can be conducted in-person at our Harley Street clinic or virtually if suitable.

Yes. Our consultant psychiatrists are experienced in acting as psychiatric expert witnesses and are available to give oral evidence in court or at tribunal hearings if required. They provide clear, unbiased testimony and are trained to communicate psychiatric findings in a manner easily understood by judges, juries, and solicitors.

We are instructed by solicitors, barristers, insurance companies, corporate clients, local authorities, and occasionally directly by individuals involved in proceedings. We work with both claimants and defendants, maintaining impartiality at all times.

Yes. Harley Street Mental Health is happy to accept instructions for Single Joint Expert (SJE) psychiatric reports, where agreed between both parties, in accordance with the court’s directions.

To instruct us, we typically require:

• A letter of instruction outlining the questions to be answered
• Relevant medical records
• Legal documentation (e.g., witness statements, previous expert reports)
• Details of timescales and any court deadlines

Our team can guide you through the instruction process and ensure that all necessary information is obtained efficiently.