Major changes in the way the Legal Aid Board deals with medical negligence cases could be on the way. These have already been foreshadowed by the government, but a report just issued by the board fills in dates and details.

The board proposes to grant franchises for law firms to handle medical negligence cases, starting from 1 January 1999. After a six-month phase- in period ending in July 1999, firms without a franchise would not be able to handle such cases on legal aid.

Franchises would be granted only to firms with members on either the Law Society's medical negligence panel or the Action for Victims of Medical Accidents panel.

Report available from: Policy and legal department, Legal Aid Board, 85 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8AA.