The National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has declined to make major changes to its line-up of clinical negligence advisers following the influential body's closely-watched panel review.

Eleven of 12 existing advisers are retained following the review, with south of England practice Brachers the only firm to miss out.

The panel, which will handle all clinical negligence claims against the NHS, retains Barlow Lyde & Gilbert; Beachcroft; Bevan Brittan; Browne Jacobson; Capsticks; Eversheds; Hempsons; Hill Dickinson; Kennedys; Ward Hadaway; and Weightmans.

The appointments will take effect from 1 April and carry a term of three years. The results, which were announced today (10 March), come after a review kicked off in October by NHSLA chief executive Steve Walker.

The body is now to begin a tender process for its nine-firm panel handling non-clinical claims, with the results of that review set to be announced next year.

The NHSLA caused a storm among legal advisers in 2001 when it slashed its advisory panel from 90 firms to just 15.

When the last panel review was completed in 2005, firms are thought to have secured a small increase in their rates from £150 an hour for London-based partners to £175. It is understood that hourly rates have been negotiated up once again.