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Are You Ready for the Unexpected? Learning from the Impact of Coronavirus

on Wednesday, 27 May 2020.

We explore here a number of quite simple steps that all businesses can take - and probably should be taking anyway - to make sure they are as ready as they can be when something unanticipated happens, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The global coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a huge shift in the way we all work and live our lives. For many, the change in circumstances has highlighted why it is more important than ever to keep both our professional and personal houses in order and to be as prepared as they can be for the unexpected. This is particularly so in General Practice, where your vocation will so often bleed into your personal life, and the frequently-used partnership structure can lead to unintended consequences if not kept under review. We always advise our clients to plan for the worst, and that process can in itself help to prevent it from happening (or at least you will be ready for it if the worst does happen).

Many of our clients have experienced problems over recent weeks, which have arisen due to the challenges presented by the necessary response to coronavirus. However, many of the issues themselves are far from unique to the pandemic. Proactive management of business and personal matters can pay dividends down the line in avoiding potential disputes and costly 'clean-up' projects.

Coronavirus Legal Advice

Here are 10 top tips for matters you may wish to consider in your business or personal life, to help prevent future problems. Click on the links below to read more about each point.

Top Tips for Managing Your Business

  • Ensure that your commercial property is registered in the correct names, and with an up-to-date address for service, and that your bank documents are in the correct names.
  • Check that any third-party occupiers in your commercial premises are properly documented, and that you have up-to-date contact details for your occupiers.
  • Keep your partnership agreement under regular review.
  • We regularly see situations where limited companies previously set up for healthcare clients are not up to date with their Companies House filings, or inadvertently have retired partners as directors and/or shareholders; you should ensure to keep this situation under review.
  • Do you have a disaster recovery policy in place? What would happen if you couldn't access your building, or your IT systems went down? Do you need to reconsider your remote working or flexible working policies? Review your policies, staff handbooks and employment contracts to ensure that they cover the situations you need.
  • Has your Primary Care Network been of assistance in the current pandemic? What could be done differently in another crisis? Do you need to consider tailoring your network agreement schedules to ensure they work for your network?
  • Do you need advice on existing lease obligations - either as a landlord, or as a tenant? This might include, for example, documenting arrangements in respect of rent concessions, or early termination of a lease.
  • With lockdown, shielding and social distancing, the potential difficulties of obtaining signatures have been brought to the fore. Consider whether you should set up powers of attorney within the business to deal with emergency situations where you are unable to obtain partners' signatures, for example as a result of self-isolation or illness.
  • Do you have an up-to-date Will, and appropriate Lasting Powers of Attorney which would come into force in the event of incapacity?
  • Have any family matters arisen during lockdown, on which you would like more advice (such as arrangements as to who a child lives with, or advice on divorce)?

We are open for business, readily available and here to help, so please get in touch if there is anything we can do to assist. Prevention is always better than cure so take the time now to take stock and get your house in order.


If you require specialist legal advice on how the coronavirus pandemic affects your practice, please contact Gemma Pouncy in our Healthcare team on 07468 698 931, or complete the form below.

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