KATHY KIRBY

SPECIALISMS:

Amputations, Brain Injury Cauda Equina Cerebral Palsy Industrial Disease Orthopaedics Palliative Care Spinal Injury

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

I am a Registered General Nurse and hold a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree. I have also obtained a Diploma in Nursing (Distinction) and an Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate. I completed an Extended Nurse Prescribing Course at Coventry University and I am a qualified People Handler and Risk Assessor.

I hold an ENB 998 Teaching and Assessing qualification and deliver training to nursing and care staff in a number of areas including Moving and Handling and Health and Safety in the workplace. I have also studied Family Planning, Sexual Health and Cytology at The University of Central England and have completed a Palliative Care Course at Kings College London.

EXPERIENCE

I am a Registered General Nurse and hold a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree (Community Nursing). I have also obtained a Diploma in Nursing (Distinction) and an Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate. I completed an Extended Nurse Prescribing Course at Coventry University and I am a qualified People Handler and Risk Assessor. I hold an ENB 998 Teaching and Assessing qualification and deliver training to nursing and care staff in a number of areas including Moving and Handling and Health and Safety in the workplace. I have also studied Family Planning, Sexual Health and Cytology at The University of Central England and have completed a Palliative Care Course at Kings College London.

I have experience in caring for patients and clients in hospitals, community nursing, nursing homes, military hospitals overseas and a specialist residential college for the disabled. This experience includes ten years’ experience working in the Middle East as a Head Nurse and Orthopaedic Nursing Sister caring for patients who had sustained severe neurological and orthopaedic injuries, including brain and spinal injuries. Working overseas has given me the opportunity to experience differing cultures and expectations, which has been invaluable working with the Asian community in the United Kingdom.

For six years I was employed as Clinical Advisor and Nursing Manager at Hereward College in Coventry. Hereward College is a nationally recognised specialist, residential college for students with varying disabilities including cerebral palsy, spina bifida and acquired brain and spinal injuries. This knowledge has equipped me with the expertise to oversee case management of cerebral palsy clients and other acquired disabilities and injuries. The practical experience I have gained over the years is invaluable in making assessments of care in community settings.

Other responsibilities have previously included working as a Nurse Manager and Acting Operation Manager, which gave me the opportunity to gain experience in recruiting, training staff and other Human Resource responsibilities, which are essential attributes for recruiting staff in my role as a Case Manager. I have also undergone management training and have attained a NVQ level 5 in Operational Management.

I am also a member of The British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers and the Tissue Viability Society. In addition, I undertake case management work, negligence and personal injury claims and have been instructed as an expert by claimants and defendants. I have been involved with AVMA (Action for the Victims of Medical Accidents), and was an invited speaker at a symposium in London to speak to members of the legal and medical profession on negligence in nursing.

I have undergone Expert Witness training organised by Bond Solon Training, including training in the responsibilities of the single joint expert. I have an on-going commitment to the regular attendance of relevant seminars and conferences to maintain and update my expertise.

During the last thirteen years working as a fulltime care consultant with Maggie Sargent and Associates, I have undertaken care assessments on behalf of personal injury lawyers for clients living in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channels Islands, Gibraltar, Spain, Republic of Ireland, Germany, Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia and Poland. I have provided advice on care requirements as a result of trauma, occupational diseases and medico/nursing negligence. I have also been instructed to advise on Court of Protection cases in the UK.

I have also undertaken charity work to raise money for research into Cystic Fibrosis, supported Maggie with her Silver Lining charity, and more recently took out medical supplies to a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon.

What our clients say...

Dear Kathy … I just wanted to say thank you so much for your patience and assistance over the past few days. Your evidence was excellent

Sinead Swan – Ivor Fitzpatrick
Thanks for your support on this. You may like to note that the case settled for a value that reflected the evidence Mr Webb gave being accepted in full by the court

Simon Harrington, Irwin Mitchell
Dear Jodie, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you for the ‘work’ which you put into my case and endeavoured to help the case come to a successful conclusion. it is wonderful that my two daughters and rest of my family now have some Justice for Bryan’s untimely death. Somewhat difficult to believe what has just happened after five years. Very many thanks, kind regards and good wishes for Christmas

PS Client Feedback
Hi Sue, you were first class. Also regards to Maggie Sargent and her premier quality team!

Philip Smith – Beauchamps
Maggie Sargent is a star – not just a leader in her field but a legend – her experience is unmatched, her knowledge impressive and her application sophisticated.

Paul Paxton – Stewarts
Can I take this opportunity in thanking you on behalf of our client and his parents. You did a tremendous job. We could not have achieved such a high settlement without your skill, expertise, and input. The family are very grateful to you

Paul McNeil – Fieldfisher
I have worked with Maggie Sargent for more that 25 years. She is the best expert I have ever instructed. She is exceptional in court and brilliant with clients. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Paul McNeil
Partner, Field Fisher
Dear Bernadette

Your report was superb thank you. I’m so very grateful to you for covering so very clearly and thoroughly all the possible outcomes of this complex case – and also the consistency with the medical evidence.

Ms L Jackson – Hockfield & Co
Dear Maggie

It has been an absolute pleasure working with you again and we thank you for your expert assistance. Your assistance has enabled us to provide what is a fabulous settlement for our client which will provide him with lifelong financial security.

Kate Nicklin – Slater & Gordon
‘The Claimant’s evidence as to the value of the nursing care she provided to Mr Grant was given by Ms Jodie Brookes. She is a registered nurse. The majority of her career has been spent managing care facilities in the private sector. She specialises in palliative care and has considerable experience nursing patients with mesothelioma. Ms Brookes gave careful and impressive oral evidence. She made concessions where appropriate, yet demonstrated that her conclusions were based on a careful review both of the medical notes and of what the Claimant had told her when she visited’.

Judgement of Martin Chamberlain QC