What is MedCo?
MedCo is the government-backed portal used to source independent medical evidence in qualifying low-value road traffic accident claims, principally whiplash injuries. This guide explains why it exists, how its random allocation works, the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 MROs, and which claims must use it. Expert Medical is a MedCo registered MRO; we provide medical evidence, not legal advice.
What is MedCo?
MedCo is the government-backed online portal used to source independent medical evidence in qualifying low-value road traffic accident claims in England and Wales, principally whiplash injuries.
It was set up in 2015 after Ministry of Justice reforms to whiplash claims. Through the MedCo Portal, a solicitor finds either an accredited medical expert or a registered Medical Reporting Organisation (MRO) to prepare the first medical report in a qualifying claim.
MedCo is run by MedCo Registration Solutions, a not-for-profit company overseen by the Ministry of Justice. Expert Medical Examination Ltd is a MedCo registered MRO; this page explains how the system works. We provide medical evidence, not legal advice.
Why MedCo was set up
Before MedCo, the party commissioning a whiplash report and the party providing it were often commercially connected, and the same experts were instructed repeatedly. That raised concern about the independence and quality of the medical evidence.
MedCo addresses this in two ways. It allocates experts and MROs at random, so a specific provider cannot be chosen in advance, and it requires accreditation, so providers meet a defined standard. The aim is medical evidence the court can trust, whichever party paid for it.
How MedCo random allocation works
For a qualifying claim, the medical report is sourced through the MedCo Portal in four steps:
- 01The authorised user (usually the claimant's solicitor) logs in to the MedCo Portal and chooses whether to instruct a Medical Reporting Organisation or a direct medical expert.
- 02MedCo generates a random shortlist: for a represented claimant, 8 MROs made up of 2 Tier 1 and 6 Tier 2, or 7 direct medical experts.
- 03The user selects one provider from that shortlist. A particular provider cannot be requested in advance.
- 04The chosen expert or MRO arranges the examination and prepares the report to CPR Part 35 standards, with the medical opinion owed to the court.
A claimant who uses the Official Injury Claim portal without a solicitor receives a smaller shortlist, but the random principle is the same. The randomisation is the point of the system. It is what stops a particular expert or MRO being pre-selected for the first RTA report, and it is what protects the independence of the evidence.
Tier 1, Tier 2 and direct medical experts
MedCo distinguishes two tiers of Medical Reporting Organisation, and separately allows direct instruction of an individual expert:
Tier 1 MRO
High-volume national organisations. In the represented-claimant MRO shortlist of 8, MedCo presents 2 Tier 1 organisations.
Tier 2 MRO
Other registered MROs, typically regional. The same shortlist of 8 presents 6 Tier 2 organisations. Both tiers are subject to the same random allocation.
Direct medical expert (DME)
An individual accredited clinician instructed directly rather than through an MRO. Where this route is chosen, MedCo returns a random shortlist of 7.
The tier reflects the scale of the organisation, not the standard each report is held to. Every report, from either tier, is prepared to CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35.
Which claims use MedCo, and which do not
MedCo has a narrow scope. It applies to the first medical report in qualifying low-value RTA claims, most commonly soft-tissue (whiplash) injuries to vehicle occupants. Most other medico-legal work sits outside it.
- The first medical report in a qualifying low-value RTA claim, most commonly a soft-tissue (whiplash) injury to a vehicle occupant, under the RTA protocols and the Official Injury Claim process.
- Clinical negligence claims.
- Workplace accidents and industrial disease.
- Military, noise-induced hearing loss and other non-RTA injury claims.
If your claim is outside MedCo, you can instruct Expert Medical directly. See our medical negligence, workplace accident and industrial disease pages.
MedCo accreditation
Medical experts who prepare initial soft-tissue RTA reports must register with MedCo and complete its accreditation training, with continuing professional development to stay accredited. Medical Reporting Organisations are separately registered and audited against MedCo's qualifying criteria for MROs.
Accreditation is about consistency. It sets a common baseline for the experts producing whiplash evidence, so that the report a court receives is reliable regardless of which provider the random shortlist returned.
Expert Medical and MedCo
Expert Medical Examination Ltd is an independent, MedCo registered Medical Reporting Organisation. For soft-tissue RTA claims, we can be instructed through the MedCo Portal in the normal way, as one of the providers the random allocation may return. We do not, and cannot, offer any route around that allocation, because the randomisation is what keeps the evidence independent.
For claims outside MedCo, such as clinical negligence, workplace injury and industrial disease, you can instruct us directly. Either way, every report is written by a clinician on the GMC or HCPC register, prepared to CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, and checked for compliance before delivery. We provide the medical evidence; we do not run the claim or give legal advice.
MedCo: frequently asked questions
What is MedCo?
MedCo is the government-backed online portal and accreditation scheme used to source independent medical evidence in qualifying low-value road traffic accident claims in England and Wales, principally soft-tissue (whiplash) injuries. It was set up in 2015 following Ministry of Justice reforms. Solicitors use it to find an accredited medical expert or a registered Medical Reporting Organisation (MRO).
Why was MedCo set up?
MedCo was introduced to break the commercial link between the party commissioning a whiplash report and the party providing it, and to curb expert shopping. By allocating experts and MROs at random and requiring accreditation, it is designed to improve the independence and quality of medical evidence in soft-tissue RTA claims.
How does the MedCo random allocation work?
The authorised user first chooses whether to instruct an MRO or a direct medical expert. MedCo then returns a randomly generated shortlist, and the user selects one provider from it. For a represented claimant the MRO shortlist is 8 organisations, made up of 2 Tier 1 and 6 Tier 2; the direct medical expert shortlist is 7. The user cannot pre-select a particular provider.
What is the difference between a Tier 1 and a Tier 2 MRO?
MedCo classifies Medical Reporting Organisations into two tiers. Tier 1 covers high-volume national MROs, and Tier 2 covers other registered MROs, which are typically regional. In the represented-claimant MRO shortlist of 8, MedCo presents 2 Tier 1 and 6 Tier 2 organisations. Both tiers are subject to the same random allocation.
What is the difference between an MRO and a direct medical expert?
A Medical Reporting Organisation (MRO) arranges the medical report, manages the expert panel, quality-checks the report and handles the administration. A direct medical expert (DME) is an individual accredited clinician instructed directly. On MedCo the authorised user chooses which route they want before the random shortlist is generated.
Which claims have to use MedCo?
MedCo must be used to source the first medical report in a qualifying low-value RTA claim, most commonly a soft-tissue (whiplash) injury to a vehicle occupant, under the RTA protocols and the Official Injury Claim process. Non-RTA claims, such as clinical negligence, workplace injury and industrial disease, are instructed directly and do not go through MedCo.
Can a solicitor choose a specific medical expert on MedCo?
No. For the first soft-tissue RTA report, MedCo generates a random shortlist and the authorised user selects one provider from it. The process is deliberately designed so that a particular expert or MRO cannot be pre-selected. This randomisation is what protects the independence of the medical evidence.
Do I need MedCo for a clinical negligence or workplace injury report?
No. MedCo applies to first medical reports in qualifying low-value RTA claims. Clinical negligence, workplace accidents, industrial disease, military and other non-RTA reports are outside the MedCo process and are instructed directly with the expert or MRO. Expert Medical prepares these reports to CPR Part 35 standards in the usual way.
What is MedCo accreditation?
Medical experts who provide initial soft-tissue RTA reports must register with MedCo and complete its accreditation training and continuing professional development. Medical Reporting Organisations are separately registered and audited against MedCo's qualifying criteria for MROs. Both are intended to keep the quality and independence of medical evidence at a consistent level.
Is Expert Medical registered with MedCo?
Yes. Expert Medical Examination Ltd is a MedCo registered Medical Reporting Organisation, so we can be instructed through the MedCo Portal for soft-tissue RTA reports. We also prepare non-RTA medico-legal reports, such as clinical negligence, workplace and industrial disease, which are instructed directly. Every report is written to CPR Part 35 standards.
Ready to instruct Expert Medical?
Whether you have a single instruction or a high-volume caseload, our team is ready to help. Call us directly or send an enquiry and we’ll respond within 24 hours.