As the day of the EU referendum looms with its currently uncertain outcome, the question is, what will a ‘leave’ or ‘remain’ vote mean for the injured person?

Obviously, in the immediate term, a potential Brexit is having a very real impact on the reform agenda. Both consultation and implementation dates are being delayed amid fears of being too political. We are currently in a ‘purdah’ period – a time when nothing of substance is permitted to come out of Government lest it sways the debate.

Delay in reforms is advantageous to the injured person if the changes are to their detriment - for example, the removal of a right to compensation. Delay is unhelpful if the changes could improve the position for the injured person - discussions on altering the discount rate have been going on for a staggering five years to date, and during this time many people have lost their opportunity to benefit from a more sensible calculation.

Once votes are cast, however, the Government is keen to get back to business. Rumours are rife of a huge pile of consultations sitting there ready to go.

Have no fear, therefore, that if the outcome is ‘remain’, we will start to see consultations thick and fast. First on the list is likely to be the consultation on fixed costs in clinical negligence claims, with the small claims consultation following in late summer / autumn.

A ‘leave’ vote may mean that we don’t see many of these consultations for some time as the Government will have bigger fish to fry as it begins the long process of extracting us from Europe and its legislative framework.