The 18th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines was published on 9th April 2026.
The figures in the Guidelines have been uplifted for inflation by reference to the Retail Prices Index- but only the RPI figure as at August 2025 (407.7). This is an 8.26% uplift on the figures in the 17th Edition. The latest available RPI figure can be found in the ‘RPI All Items Index’ section of the ONS website. In keeping with the approach I now see adopted on assessment, any further adjustments for inflation beyond August 2025 can be sought when inviting the Court to assess damages by reference to the Guidelines.
There is a reminder that there needs to be care when updating awards of general damages from older authorities with the reported cases often uplifted for inflation but not taking account of the effect of Simmons v Castle and the 10% uplift.
There are changes to the section addressing Epilepsy in Chapter 3. The outdated and unhelpful references to established grand mal and petit mal have been replaced by referred to generalised motor or tonicclonic seizures and focal seizures. There is a single wide bracket for established epilepsy (£72,440 to £198,320) which we can expected to be refined in subsequent editions of the Guidelines.
The introductory comments of the Guidelines highlight changes to the section at chapter 4(C) addressing sexual and/or physical abuse which has been updated in light of recent case law.
There is now a section on Miscarriage at Chapter 6. Chapter 6(F)(g) provides for awards of £2,750 to £17,000 with the level of award subject to consideration of a number of factors including the duration of pain and discomfort, the stage of pregnancy when miscarriage occurred and any subsequent difficulties in conceiving.
On first glance, there are not many other significant changes.
The new Guidelines are available on some but not all online resources- any immediate queries, please get in touch.