Hospital Negligence
Compensation Claims

If a hospital neglect has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Hospital neglect can have devastating consequences for patients and their families. In some cases, patient neglect can lead to longer-term issues including pressure sore, ill health and psychological harm.

We can help you make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim for hospital neglect.

What to consider when claiming for hospital neglect

• You have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start a claim.
• You can start a claim with no win, no fee.
• Your compensation is based on how serious your injury is, along with your financial losses and expenses. Check our compensation calculator to see how much you could claim.
• Compensation is possible if you experienced harm due to the actions or omissions of a medical professional.
• Healthcare professionals are legally required to safeguard patients from harm.

With over 13,000 clinical negligence claims a year, you're not alone

Hospital neglect refers to errors occurring within a hospital that have resulted in patient suffering or further injury.

These forms of negligence can occur across all hospital departments, from A&E to surgery and from X-ray to other outpatient services. The service area with the highest number of complaints, however, is usually inpatient hospital acute services.

13,511 new clinical negligence claims were referred to NHS Resolution in 2022/23 (resolution.nhs.uk).

NHS Resolution pays out around £2.5bn in damages for clinical negligence claims every year.

If you decide to make a compensation 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.

See also:

Making a clinical negligence claim

How much compensation can I claim for hospital neglect?

Your claim for compensation in hospital neglect will depend on:

• how severe your illness is,
• how much your illness affects your daily life and work performance,
• any financial expenses or losses you?ve had due to your illness.

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 awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of earnings, or any other out of pocket expenses.

Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your injury, including 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 hospital neglect compensation?

Yes, you can start a compensation claim for hospital neglect, if:

• you became ill within the last 3 years, and;
• another person was to blame, and;
• that person owed you a 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 do I have to claim hospital neglect compensation?

You usually have 3 years to make a hospital neglect 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.

Typical hospital negligence claims

Some of the most common examples of hospital negligence and neglect which result in claims include:

• Surgical errors, including after-surgery care
• Hospital acquired illnesses and infections (such as MRSA)
• Misdiagnosis or failure to adequately test, diagnose and treat
• Failure to sufficiently check and monitor, leading to problems such as pressure sores, malnutrition or dehydration
• Incorrect medication or treatment given
• Administrative errors

The NHS regard many categories of injury-causing hospital errors as 'never events'. Not only can these errors lead to worsening of current illness or injury, they can lead to serious health complications and psychological distress.

What is the claims process for hospital negligence?

When a person suffers as a result of hospital negligence, contacting the hospital to raise a grievance is usually the first step; a specialist solicitor will confirm with you how to proceed.

The NHS has its own complaints procedure through which patients dissatisfied with their level of care can report their concerns.

Once reported, the NHS acknowledges a person's right to have a complaint properly investigated, to ask for an independent review and to receive compensation if harmed.

NHS Resolution deal with claims out of court and pay out for claims relating to public hospitals. Private hospitals will have their own processes and insurance.

Your right to take your claim to court is, in most cases, not affected by following the hospital's own process first. Your solicitor will be able to advise on this point further.

For more information on making a complaint, visit: How to complain to the NHS (nhs.uk).

Hospital clinical negligence claims

Clinical negligence is the most common basis for hospital neglect claims. Click the icon below for details on the claims process.

Medical negligence Other accidents

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.