The practice of hospitals entering into commercial marketing deals with law firms could soon end if a suggestion put forward by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is implemented.

Mr Hunt appears to be taking the view that marketing by law firms in hospitals is intrusive and opportunistic, essentially buying in to the view that such commercial arrangements are allowing law firms to act as 'ambulance chasers'. But people have a right to receive full and proper compensation from those that have injured them through negligence, and making it harder for people to find help will achieve little but to undermine that right.

It is also the case the such commercial arrangements can be of great benefit to cash-strapped hospitals and NHS trusts, providing additional revenue, as well as cost-effective legal support services for the hospitals and trusts themselves.

In his blog post on the Law Society website, Richard Miller, Head of Justice at the Law Society, explores these matters in greater detail - you can read his full article here.