Eljamel Inquiry - Heather Arlidge
Heather has been instructed as First Junior Counsel in the Eljamel Inquiry.
Published: 14th May 2026
Heather is a specialist public inquiry and medical law practitioner, practising in personal injury, clinical negligence, and inquests & inquiries. She also practices in broader public & administrative law, particularly in matters regarding prisons and the secure estate.
Heather’s practice is currently dominated by the Eljamel Inquiry, a Scottish public Inquiry investigating the professional practice of Mr Eljamel, a consultant neurosurgeon, and the governance systems, or lack thereof, that were in place to protect patients. Heather is First Junior Counsel to the Inquiry. She continues to accept instructions across her practice areas.
Prior to joining Chambers, Heather worked for two well-known insurance law firms in London, where she was instructed in almost every conceivable type of claim that might be expected in a defendant insurance practice. Although the focus of her practice is now medical, her broad common-law experience means she continues to receive instructions in matters such as construction claims and contractual disputes.
Personal Injury Law
Heather is the head of the Personal Injury Team at 42BR Barristers. She has considerable experience in acting for both Claimants and Defendants across a broad range of road traffic, public liability, and employers’ liability claims. She has a busy multi-track court and paperwork practice, and regularly advises in conference in complex personal injury matters. Heather is regularly instructed in claims for serious or catastrophic injuries, including those involving brain injuries resulting in a lack of capacity, and in claims raising novel or complex points of law.
Heather has developed particular experience in dealing with matters where fundamental dishonesty and/or fraud is in issue, and is regularly instructed to advise in these matters in addition to her court work.
Away from the court room, Heather is frequently instructed to advise in conference and on paper in respect of quantum and liability in high-value claims, and particularly enjoys the forensic analysis of high volumes of information. She is instructed in joint settlement meetings and has acted, without a leader, in several cases valued at more than £1m.
Heather is instructed by both Claimants and Defendants. Where appropriate, she will consider accepting instructions on a CFA basis.
Recent cases
- Acting for the Defendant local authority in a number of linked claims brought by two Claimants. Heather was also instructed in respect of the imposition of Extended and General Civil Restraint Orders arising in connection with the dismissal of the linked claims (2025).
- Acting for the Claimant in a stress at work claim arising from her work in the secure estate. The matter settled at JSM for over £100,000
- Acting for the partner of deceased in a fatal accident claim arising from an accident at work. The claim settled at JSM for £750,000 and involved novel issues of apportionment for the family (concluded 2022)
- Acting for the family of a city worker who died in a road traffic accident (concluded 2021)
Clinical Negligence Law
Heather is the head of the Clinical Negligence Team at 42BR Barristers.
She acts for both Claimants and Defendants (both in the public and private healthcare sectors). She particularly enjoys dealing with matters concerning complex medical issues, and has been instructed in a broad range of claims against, for example, GPs, surgeons, midwives, dentists, and NHS Trusts.
Heather frequently advises on paper and in conference across the range of her clinical negligence practice. She has a busy multi-track court practice, and regularly drafts Statements of Case in claims pleaded significantly in excess of £1m (for both Claimants and Defendants).
She has particular experience in dealing with cases concerning cosmetic surgery and the specific issues that arise in such cases regarding patient expectations and consent
Recent cases
- Acting for the Claimant (via her litigation friend) in respect of a claim arising from a hypoxic brain injury following surgery. The Schedule of Loss exceeded £1.5m. (concluded 2021)
- Acting for the Defendant in a claim against a private cosmetic surgeon in respect of blepharoplasty treatment
- Acting for the Defendant in a claim brought in respect of bladder injuries sustained by the Claimant in the course of an unplanned caesarean section.
Inquests
Heather is the head of the Inquests and Inquiries team at 42BR Barristers.
The majority of Heather’s coronial work involves inquests heard with juries; she is familiar with the particular issues arising in Article 2 inquests, being regularly instructed in inquests touching on deaths occurring within the secure estate. She also has experience in matters involving health and safety legislation, acting for families, companies, and local authorities.
Heather also regularly appears in non-jury inquests. She is instructed by families, NHS trusts, insurance companies and individual interested parties in inquests into, for example, road traffic accidents, care home deaths, and deaths in hospitals.
Recent work
- Acting for the family of a patient who died whilst in a secure mental health facility as a result of medical complications (2025)
- Acting for the family of a patient who died following a bladder injury when being catheterised (2025 – direct access)
- Acting for a security contractor in a hospital; the deceased absconded from hospital following preliminary assessment in Accident and Emergency. The jury reached a conclusion of suicide (2024)
- Acting for the family of a patient who was under mental health care in the community. The deceased took her own life. (2024)
- Acting for a private GP provider who was made an interested party to the inquest into the death of a patient (2023)
- Acting for the family of a patient in a care home who was left unassisted, contrary to his care plan, and fell, sustaining fatal injuries (2021)
Inquiries
Heather has extensive experience of acting as Counsel to the Inquiry, and Counsel for Core Participants in a number of high profile public inquiries.
She is currently First Junior Counsel to the Inquiry in the Eljamel Inquiry, chaired by Lord Weir.
Heather was junior counsel representing Haemophilia Scotland, the Scottish Infected Blood Forum, and approximately 200 individual core participants from 2020-2026.
Heather was senior junior to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Module 2A from 2023 to 2025.
In 2025-2026, Heather was junior counsel to the Inquiry in the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Direct Access
Heather is authorised to accept instructions direct from members of the public. She encourages clients who are considering this route to contact Chambers and discuss their problem.
In suitable cases, Heather can provide client conferences, written advices and representation at court. Heather accepts public access work across Chambers’ areas of expertise.
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