Facts: Mr Coombs had a lengthy psychiatric history, but then sustained significant head injuries as a result of the negligence of the PCT, which worsened his psychiatric condition. Mr Coombs claimed and was awarded damages for private psychiatric treatment and the PCT appealed that.

Judgment: the Court of Appeal (Rix, Aikens and Black LJJ) held that there was nothing in the statutory scheme or public policy that prevented a psychiatric patient, or others, from paying for care privately, as other private patients in hospitals do; so the damages award in that respect was lawful.