Expert medical reports: cost, content and CPR Part 35
An expert medical report is an independent medical opinion prepared for a court or a claim. This guide explains what one is, what it must contain under CPR Part 35, who qualifies as an expert, and what medico-legal reports typically cost. Expert Medical Examination Ltd is a MedCo registered medical reporting organisation (MRO); we provide medical evidence, not legal advice.
What is an expert medical report?
An expert medical report is an independent medical opinion, written for a legal claim or for a court. It is also called a medico-legal report or a medical legal report.
A registered clinician examines the injured person, reads the relevant records, and sets out the diagnosis, how the injury was caused, and the likely recovery. It is different from an everyday GP letter or hospital note. Those record treatment. An expert medical report is prepared as evidence, and it is written to standards set by the Civil Procedure Rules. The clinician's first duty is to the court, not to the person who asked for the report or who pays for it.
In plain terms, it is the document a solicitor, insurer or the court relies on to understand an injury and its consequences.
What an expert medical report should include
An expert medical report should follow Practice Direction 35, which sits under CPR Part 35. That practice direction sets out the required content, so a report that leaves parts out can be challenged. A report to Practice Direction 35 should:
- 01The expert's qualifications and relevant experience.
- 02Who gave the instructions, and the substance of them.
- 03The facts and assumptions the opinion rests on.
- 04Which tests or examinations were carried out, and by whom.
- 05The reasoned opinion on diagnosis, causation and prognosis.
- 06The range of opinion where clinicians could reasonably disagree, with reasons.
- 07A summary of the conclusions.
- 08A statement of the expert's duty to the court, and a signed statement of truth.
Miss the statement of truth or the declaration of duty and the report is not compliant. That is why the structure matters as much as the medicine.
How an expert medical report is written
To write an expert medical report, the clinician works through the same steps every time. First, read the letter of instruction and the medical records. Second, examine the claimant or, in a records-based case, review the notes in detail. Third, form an opinion on diagnosis, causation and prognosis.
The writing itself follows Practice Direction 35. Set out the history the claimant gives, the examination findings, and the reasoning that connects the injury to the accident. Use plain language a non-medical reader can follow. Where honest clinicians might reach different views, say so and explain the range. Keep opinion separate from fact.
The report closes with the declaration of duty to the court and the statement of truth. A well-written medico-legal report reads clearly, shows its reasoning, and holds up when the other side asks questions under CPR Part 35.
Who qualifies as an expert witness, and the four C's
The court decides who qualifies as an expert witness. Qualification rests on relevant knowledge, training and experience in the field the case turns on, not on a job title alone. For medical evidence that normally means a doctor on the GMC register, or an allied health professional on the HCPC register. For a soft-tissue road traffic report, the expert also has to be MedCo-accredited.
Solicitors often weigh an expert against a practical checklist known as the four C's. It is a selection aid, not a legal test, and the exact wording varies between sources. A commonly cited UK version is communication, collaboration, confidence and candour: can the expert explain clearly, work openly with those instructing them, hold a considered position under pressure, and stay honest about the limits of the evidence.
None of that displaces the rule in CPR 35.3. Whoever the expert is, their overriding duty is to the court.
How much an expert medical report costs
An expert medical report in England and Wales usually costs from around £450 plus VAT for a standard personal injury report, and more for complex or clinical negligence work. The fee that is fixed by the rules is the first report in a low-value soft-tissue road traffic claim: for a whiplash-type claim by a motor-vehicle occupant, the first report is a fixed-cost report sourced through the MedCo portal, set at £226 plus VAT under the Civil Procedure Rules, following the fixed-fee increase that took effect in April 2025.
Every figure above the fixed £226 report is a typical market rate across UK providers, not Expert Medical's own price. Two reports on the same facts can carry different fees, because complexity, records volume, seniority and urgency all move the cost. We confirm the fee in writing before you instruct.
Do expert reports have to be filed?
Not automatically. Expert evidence is controlled by the court, so a report is not simply lodged and accepted. Under CPR 35.4, no party may call an expert or rely on an expert's report without the court's permission, and the party asking for permission has to identify the field, the issues and an estimate of the cost.
Reports are usually disclosed or exchanged between the parties when the court directs, rather than filed as a matter of course. CPR 35.13 puts teeth behind that: a party who does not disclose an expert's report cannot use it at trial, or call the expert, without the court's permission.
One point is worth being clear about. Following Practice Direction 35 makes a report compliant and credible. It does not, on its own, make the evidence admissible. Admission is a matter for the court under CPR Part 35, on the facts of each case.
The limits of expert evidence, and how independence answers them
Expert evidence has real limits, and it helps to name them. It costs money, it can add delay, and a weak or one-sided opinion can be given little weight or thrown out. Experts on opposing sides can disagree, which leaves the court to decide whom to prefer. Poorly reasoned reports invite hard questions under CPR Part 35.
Independence is the answer the rules build in. Because the expert's duty is to the court and not to the paying party, a properly written medico-legal report shows its reasoning, sets out the range of opinion, and can be tested by the other side. That is what makes it useful rather than partisan.
The practical point for a claim is simple. A balanced, well-evidenced report is worth more than a confident one, because it survives challenge.
How Expert Medical prepares your report
Expert Medical Examination Ltd is an independent, MedCo registered medical reporting organisation (MRO). We prepare medical evidence for personal injury, clinical negligence and related claims. We provide medical evidence only. We do not give legal advice and we do not run claims.
Every report is written by a clinician on the GMC or HCPC register and structured to CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, including the declaration of duty to the court and the statement of truth. For low-value soft-tissue road traffic claims by a vehicle occupant, first reports are sourced through the MedCo portal, as the rules require. Fees are confirmed in writing at instruction.
Expert medical reports: frequently asked questions
How much does a medical expert report cost?
A medical expert report usually costs from around £450 plus VAT for a standard personal injury report, rising to £1,500 to £4,950 plus VAT for clinical negligence opinions. The first fixed-cost soft-tissue RTA report is set at £226 plus VAT. These are typical market rates across UK providers; the fee is confirmed at instruction.
What is a medical expert report?
A medical expert report, also called a medico-legal report, is an independent medical opinion prepared for a legal claim. A GMC or HCPC registered clinician examines the claimant, reviews the records, and sets out diagnosis, causation and prognosis. Under CPR Part 35 the expert's overriding duty is to the court, not to whoever pays.
What should be included in an expert report?
An expert report must follow Practice Direction 35. It should give the expert's qualifications, the substance of instructions, the facts and any tests relied on, who carried them out, a range of opinion where views differ, a summary of conclusions, a statement of the duty to the court, and a signed statement of truth.
How to write an expert medical report?
To write an expert medical report, examine the claimant, read the medical records and the letter of instruction, then structure the report to Practice Direction 35. Set out the history, examination findings, diagnosis, causation and prognosis in plain language, give a reasoned opinion, note any range of views, and sign the statement of truth.
How much does a medical report cost in the UK?
In the UK, a medical report typically costs from around £450 plus VAT for a standard personal injury report. Consultant-authored reports run about £1,200 to £4,200 plus VAT, and clinical negligence opinions often exceed £1,500. The first fixed-cost soft-tissue RTA report is £226 plus VAT. Figures are typical market rates; the fee is confirmed at instruction.
What are the potential downsides of using expert witnesses in court?
The main downsides are cost, delay, and the risk of partisan or poorly reasoned evidence. Weak or biased opinions can be challenged, given little weight, or excluded. Experts can also disagree, adding uncertainty. Independence answers this: under CPR Part 35 the expert's duty is to the court, which keeps the opinion balanced and testable.
What are the four C's of expert witness?
The four C's are a practical guide to choosing an expert witness, not a legal test, and versions differ. A commonly cited UK set is communication, collaboration, confidence and candour: explaining clearly, working openly with instructing solicitors, showing measured confidence, and staying honest about the limits of the evidence and any range of opinion.
What are the costs of an expert witness in the UK?
Expert witness costs in the UK are usually charged by the hour or as a fixed report fee. Typical hourly rates run £250 to £450 plus VAT, with senior consultants above £500. Court attendance is often £1,000 to £3,000 plus VAT per day. These are typical market rates; the fee is confirmed at instruction.
Do expert reports have to be filed?
Not automatically. Expert evidence is controlled by the court. A party needs the court's permission under CPR 35.4 to rely on an expert, and reports are disclosed or exchanged when the court directs. Under CPR 35.13, a party who does not disclose a report cannot use it at trial without the court's permission.
Who qualifies an expert witness?
The court decides whether a witness qualifies as an expert, based on relevant knowledge, training and experience in the field in question. For medical evidence, that usually means a doctor on the GMC register or a clinician on the HCPC register. Soft-tissue RTA reports also require MedCo accreditation.
What does "medical report" mean?
A medical report is a written account by a clinician of a person's health, injuries or condition. In a legal claim it is a medico-legal report: an independent expert sets out diagnosis, causation and prognosis for the court. It differs from ordinary clinical notes because it is prepared as evidence under CPR Part 35.
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