GP negligence
compensation claims

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

Negligence in general practice, from misdiagnosis to delayed treatment, can have serious health consequences for patients.

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 compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.

You are not alone

The General Medical Council have found that approximately 42% of complaints about doctors were related to GPs. GP negligence can exacerbate an existing condition at best, and at worst, can endanger patients' lives. If you have suffered because of GP negligence, you may feel that taking action could be complicated and stressful. However, Quittance's panel of solicitors can guide you through the process, and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

GP negligence can be defined as the failure of a GP to provide an appropriate diagnosis or the correct medication. Negligence also occurs when a GP fails to refer a patient for assessment by a specialist, or to act on the results of tests. This can be especially detrimental to people who have conditions that affect the length or quality of their lives.

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 deserve.

Am I eligible for GP negligence compensation?

Medical negligence claims differ from personal injury claims. To make a successful claim your solicitor will need to establish:

• you received care that was below the professionally acceptable level, and
• as a result, you experienced harm.

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.

Get an impartial opinion

To get impartial advice on whether you have a claim, speak to an injury claim expert on 0800 376 1001.

A brief phone consultation will tell you exactly where you stand. There is no obligation to start a 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.

What should you do if you have experienced GP negligence?

If your physical and mental well-being has been affected by GP negligence, it is important to seek the advice of a solicitor who has experience of dealing with cases like yours. The Quittance panel can advise you on whether or not you are likely to have a case for claiming compensation. The panel can also provide you with an estimate of how much your claim could be worth, enabling you to make an informed decision from the start.

Your solicitor can conduct an investigation into what has happened, and gather all the evidence necessary to pursue a claim for compensation.

Can I claim GP negligence compensation for someone else?

If a member of your family has suffered because of GP negligence, and is not able to make a claim, you can act on their behalf. If your family member has lost their life because of a lack of care from their GP, you could have a case for claiming compensation. An experienced solicitor will appreciate the extent of your suffering, and will work hard to ensure that you receive compensation for what has happened.

How much compensation can I claim for a GP negligence?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

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

Clinical negligence claims

GP negligence injuries are usually categorised as clinical negligence. Click on the icon below for more information.

Medical
negligence

Other
accidents

FAQs

How long does an injury claim take?

What are my chances of winning my claim?

Will my claim go to court?

Can I claim for someone else?

How long do I have to make an injury claim?

What if a child was injured?

How we can help you with your medical negligence claim

Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning medical negligence claims.

• FREE
  consultation
• Find out
  if you can claim
• No obligation
  to start a claim

Handled with the utmost professionalism... extremely kind, courteous and empathetic.

The Good Solicitor Guide

£100,000 award for delays in hospital treatment

Read more case studies

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Legal Services. 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.