Independent Medical Review Impartial. Authoritative. Precise.

An independent medical review is a formal clinical assessment carried out by a specialist who has no treating relationship with the individual being reviewed. It provides an impartial opinion on condition, causation, prognosis, and treatment needs. An IMR is appropriate where an objective surgical opinion is required — for example, for an insurance claim, an employer’s fitness-for-work decision, or a pre-litigation assessment — and where a full CPR Part 35 expert witness report is not yet needed.

Yes. Professor Hindocha operates entirely independently of NHS treating teams. He has no involvement in the claimant’s care history and applies his own clinical judgment based solely on the records and — where instructed — a direct examination. This independence is preserved regardless of which NHS Trust or treating clinicians were previously involved, which is precisely what makes an IMR from Harley Street Legal suitable for disputes and claims.

Not always. Many IMRs can be completed as desktop reviews of existing medical records, imaging, and documentation. Where a physical examination adds clinical value — for example, to assess the current extent of scarring, functional limitation, or recovery — Professor Hindocha will recommend one and it can be conducted at our Harley Street consulting rooms. The need for examination is assessed case by case at the point of instruction.

An IMR provides an independent clinical opinion and is suitable for insurance, employment, and pre-litigation contexts. A CPR Part 35 expert witness report is a more formally structured document prepared specifically for court proceedings — it includes the expert’s declaration of independence, addresses breach of duty and causation to the standard required by litigation, and may support the expert’s attendance at court. We can advise which is appropriate when you contact us, and can convert an IMR to a CPR Part 35 report if proceedings subsequently commence.

Professor Hindocha’s IMR practice covers the full scope of plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery — including traumatic injury, scarring and disfigurement, burn injuries, hand and upper limb injuries, post-surgical complications, and cosmetic surgery outcomes. He also provides IMRs in cases involving chronic pain, musculoskeletal conditions, and psychiatric injury arising from surgical or physical trauma. Cases outside this scope are assessed individually at the point of instruction.