GP Negligence Claims

If a GP negligence injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

General practitioner negligence can encompass misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, incorrect treatment, or failure to refer to specialists.

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by GP negligence, we can help. If your injuries were caused by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, midwife or other medical professional, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

Compensation claims consider the extent of medical setbacks and additional care required due to the GP's failure to provide an adequate standard of care.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.

Key points when claiming for GP negligence

• All GPs, nurses, and other healthcare providers owe a duty of care to safeguard their patients from injury.
• You can claim compensation if your doctor failed in their duty of care and you were harmed.
• You can also claim if an existing injury was made worse, or harder to treat, by a GP's negligence.
• You can claim if your GP prescribed the wrong medication or dosage, failed to refer you to a suitable specialist, or failed to obtain informed consent.
• There is a 3-year time limit from the injury date to start your claim.
• You can claim on a no win, no fee basis.
• Your compensation will depend on the seriousness of your injury, and your financial losses and expenses. You can find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.

With around 120,000 written complaints about GPs made a year, you are not alone

GP negligence, while not widespread, does occur. It's difficult to quantify exactly how often it happens, as many cases might go unreported or are resolved outside the court system.

In 2022 there were 125,584 written complaints about NHS GPs and dentists, with 13.8% of GP complaints relating to clinical treatment (digital.nhs.uk). This represents a year-on-year rise of 4.6%.

GPs were the subject of over half the complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2010, despite representing only a quarter of registered doctors in the UK (source: bmj.com).

If you decide to make a GP negligence claim, your medical negligence solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

How much compensation can I claim for GP negligence?

Compensation for GP negligence is determined by:

• how significant your injury is,
• how your injury affects your everyday life and work,
• any financial impacts or losses resulting from your injury.

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying compensation for lost earnings, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as corrective treatment and psychological support.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Am I eligible for GP negligence compensation?

You are entitled to make an injury claim for GP negligence, if:

• you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
• another party was at fault, and;
• that party owed you a legal duty of care.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

How long after a GP negligence incident do I have to start a claim?

You usually have 3 years to make a GP negligence claim, from the date you learned you were harmed by the substandard care (the date of knowledge).

For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a medical negligence claim.

How long do I have to start a claim?

If your injury is apparent immediately after medical treatment, you will have 3 years to start a claim.

It may be that the negligent procedure happened more than 3 years ago, but your injury was only diagnosed recently, within the last 3 years. If so, you may still be able to make a claim.

What if your injury was diagnosed months or years after treatment?

You may not be immediately aware of your injury. In some cases, months and even years can pass before symptoms appear.

The law allows you to make a medical negligence claim up to three years after the 'date of knowledge' (when you first learned of the injury).

It is recommended that you start a claim as soon as possible, as medical negligence cases can be complex. Starting your claim sooner will give your solicitor more time to gather medical evidence, assess the extent of your injury and to negotiate interim payments and your final compensation amount.

Making a claim

GP negligence can be distressing, as it may worsen your condition or even put your life at risk.

GP negligence includes failure to diagnose correctly, prescribe the right medication, refer patients to specialists, or act on test results, all of which can significantly impact your health and quality of life.

However, pursuing a claim for such negligence need not be overwhelming. Our team of expert solicitors is here to guide you through the claim process and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

We're committed to making this process as clear and positive as possible, helping you understand every step and supporting you in seeking justice.

GP clinical negligence claims

Most GP negligence claims technically involve clinical negligence. Click the icon below to explore the next steps in the claims process.

Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.