Guide to medical negligence claims

When we’re unwell, we are used to placing our trust in doctors, nurses and other health professionals. However, occasionally things can go wrong and when they do, the effects can be devastating.

Experiencing medical negligence can be a very traumatic experience and serious injuries that sometimes result from this negligence can be life-changing for you and your loved ones. Making a compensation claim can’t change what has happened to you, but it can help with your recovery and help you and your family to rebuild your lives and start to move forwards. This guide aims to provide you with all the information you need to decide whether making a medical negligence claim is right for you and your circumstances.

What is medical negligence?

If you believe a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional has made a mistake and/or has failed in their duty to provide an adequate level of care or skill that has resulted in you suffering an injury, loss or damage, you may be entitled to pursue a medical negligence compensation claim.

Medical negligence covers both ‘acts’ and ‘omissions’. ‘Acts’ covers situations where an error has been made – for example, an error in surgery. ‘Omissions’ refers to situations where there has been a failure to do something that should have been done. For example, the failure to carry out an emergency caesarean section in labour when there was clear evidence of foetal distress would count as an ‘omission’.

There can be situations where a hospital or healthcare professional has been negligent, but that negligence hasn’t resulted in an injury. In these circumstances, it is not possible to bring a claim.

Are there time limits for bringing a medical negligence claim?

Medical negligence claims should be brought within three years from the date of initial negligent treatment, or if you did not know you had suffered an injury at the time, then three years from the date you knew or ought to have known you had suffered an injury.

There are exceptions to this time frame, but on the whole if you don’t issue a claim form (which begins court proceedings) within this three-year window, you may be prevented from bringing a claim. Although the courts can allow claims to proceed if a claim form is issued outside the three-year period, they rarely do so.

The three-year time frame does not apply to those that do not have the capacity to bring a claim themselves. Also exempt are children under the age of 18, though any medical negligence claim they do make, related to their childhood, will need to be lodged within three years of them turning 18.

What services are covered by medical negligence claims?

Medical negligence claims are not just restricted to hospitals; they cover all forms of medical treatment meaning a claim can be brought against any healthcare professional. This includes general practitioners (GPs), out-of-hours GP services, health visitors, osteopaths, physiotherapists and midwives.

At the outset, it is important to establish who is responsible for the medical negligence in question – this could be an individual, a trust or a hospital. A claim made against a GP will be addressed to them personally. GPs carry professional indemnity insurance to cover these situations.

If negligence has taken place in an NHS hospital, even though the claim may be a result of an individual’s actions, it will be the NHS Trust itself that will be deemed liable if your claim is successful. With regards to private healthcare, private consultants are insured against medical negligence, meaning claims can be made against individuals. For other staff employed directly, the private hospital will bear responsibility for any claim.

Medical negligence compensation

Should your medical negligence claim be successful, subsequent compensation falls into two distinct categories:

  • General damages – this compensates you for the injury you have suffered, and covers pain, suffering and ‘loss of amenity’. The latter covers losses that are non-financial, but that limit your lifestyle. The medical negligence compensation that falls under this category is based on the severity of the injury and its impact on your life and usual activities.
  • Special damages – this covers financial losses that have occurred as a result of an injury caused by medical negligence. It also covers costs that are likely to arise in the future.

Special damages – past losses due to medical negligence

You are entitled to claim for any financial expenses that you have incurred as a result of the negligence. For example, this could include the cost of travelling to and from medical appointments, loss of earnings, prescriptions, additional heating costs, or unpaid care provided by a family member. These are just a few of the expenses that can be claimed.

Special damages – future losses due to the medical negligence

You are entitled to claim for future financial losses that are a direct result of medical negligence. This could include future loss of earnings, loss of pension rights, care costs, medical aids and equipment, transport costs, the cost of private medical treatment or the cost of physiotherapy and accommodation expenses.

For those with complex healthcare needs, experts will need to be instructed to carry out a formal assessment in order to provide realistic costings. If an injury resulting from the medical negligence has been catastrophic, resulting in significant future financial losses, then the court may insist that some of the compensation payments are made periodically – for example, annually or monthly for life – as opposed to a single lump sum to ensure the money does not run out.

Funding your medical negligence claim

Many people are concerned about how to fund a medical negligence claim. Be assured that there are a number of options available and we can advise which is the best suited to your circumstances.

  • Legal expenses insurance – you may have legal expenses insurance attached to your home and contents insurance, or attached to another insurance policy which may allow you to pursue a medical negligence claim.
  • Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA) – CFAs are often termed ‘no win no fee’. In these instances, if we are successful on your behalf, the majority of our costs will be paid by your opponent. However, there may still be some expenses. This will include part of any insurance premium, a ‘success’ fee, and any shortfall between costs claimed from your opponent and costs recovered.
  • Paying privately – if the merits of your medical negligence case are unclear, meaning a CFA can’t be offered at the outset, it is possible to pay privately with the option of a fixed fee retainer. This will be limited to carry out an initial investigation before agreeing an alternative method of funding.
  • Legal Aid – which is subject to a means and merits test, is available only for children with neurological injury resulting in severe disability stemming during pregnancy, childbirth, or during the eight-week postnatal period.

How Moore Barlow can help

Expert legal knowledge is essential if you are to achieve a successful outcome in a medical negligence claim. We consistently achieve outstanding results on behalf of adults and children who have suffered harm due to medical or medical negligence.

Our team of specialist medical negligence lawyers have been hand-picked for their skills, technical competence, and includes lawyers qualified in medicine, nursing and midwifery.

With offices in Southampton, London, Richmond, Guildford, Woking and Lymington and operating nationally, we’re ideally placed to assist with your claim and achieve the best possible outcome for you and your loved ones.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your medical negligence claim.

Medical negligence factsheet

We are used to placing our trust in doctors, nurses and other health professionals. When things go wrong what do you do?


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