F v E (Matrimonial) 31-Mar-2021

This is an application by F for a specific issues order, namely that his child G should have the MMR vaccination and the flu vaccine. The application is dated the 19 th October 2020. The application is opposed by E, G's mother. For the purpose of these reasons I shall call the applicant "the father" and the respondent "the mother".

The parties were married in 2011 and separated in 2016. Their son, G was born [redacted] and is now aged 7. There has been extensive litigation between the parties regarding G which concluded on 31st August 2018, when a final residence order was made in favour of the father, with a shared care arrangement between the parents, whereby G spends 6 days in each two week with the mother and otherwise lives with the father.

The father filed a report dated the 2 nd March 2021, by Dr David Lawrenson Consultant Paediatrician at Jersey General Hospital, the mother has not filed an expert report and makes a preliminary application for an adjournment to allow more time for her to obtain expert evidence.

Several days prior to the final hearing, the mother had sent emails to the court to the effect that, if she had more time she would be able to obtain an expert report to support her position. Due to demands upon the court's time, the mother was invited to make her application for an adjournment on the morning of the final hearing.

The mother seeks an adjournment of the final hearing for a period of two months to allow G to be tested for further allergens through his GP, and also to allow time for a report from Dr Halvorsen to be obtained. The mother stated, "I feel that we don't have a full clinical representation of [G's] health". The mother said that she had had difficulty finding an expert a situation not helped by the covid crisis in the UK. She concluded by saying that it would be dangerous to G to refuse an adjournment as this would be to proceed without full information.