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Claiming GP negligence compensation will require you to approach a medical negligence solicitor for expert legal advice.
GPs are required to have a broad understanding of a large number of medical fields, even if they do not possess specialist knowledge of any given affliction or disease. In theory, this means they can provide appropriate care for the vast majority of patients and afflictions, and make appropriate referrals to specialists where necessary. Sometimes however, GPs fail to provide even the most basic standards of care, with potentially devastating implications for the patients concerned.
Where such failures affect you and your health, you may be entitled to make a GP negligence claim.
Making a Claim for GP Negligence
There are a number of instances where failures on the part of your doctor or GP may entitle you to make a GP negligence claim:
- Where your doctor fails to diagnose you properly.
- Failure to carry out sufficient testing to recognise the development of a patient’s condition.
- Where it is not possible to make an appointment to see your GP or doctor and this allows your condition to go undiagnosed and untreated for longer.
- Insufficient or inappropriate examination and analysis of said test results.
- Failing to recognise the development of heart problems in a patient.
- When a doctor fails to refer a patient to a specialist for further investigation.
- Situations where planned referrals to specialists are not actually executed, or at least not in a reasonable timeframe.
- Where a doctor or GP fails to meet their home-visit commitments.
- Prescribing the incorrect medication.
- Unsatisfactory record-keeping leading to the loss or obscuring of vital patient information, impacting diagnosis or treatment.
Only an expert medical negligence solicitor, such as those at Blackwater Law, can tell you whether or not you have a legitimate GP negligence case.
The above is not intended as an exhaustive list of all potential scenarios where you may be able to make a GP negligence claim. Any situation where the patient has suffered as a result of poor judgement, care or advice on the behalf of the GP may qualify as grounds for making a claim. Legal advice should be sought promptly from a specialist medical negligence solicitor in order to establish whether or not you or your family member is potentially entitled to make a GP negligence claim.
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- No win, no fee GP negligence claims
- Independently recognised as experts
Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitors acted for Mr L in a medical negligence claim in the High Court after he was misdiagnosed. The misdiagnosis meant he went on to suffer a serious stroke causing life-limiting disability.
No Win, No Fee GP Negligence Claims
At Blackwater Law we understand the negative effects poor care, a misdiagnosis or the issuing of a wrong prescription can have on you and your family. We also appreciate that the notion of paying legal fees for representation can mean you are put off claiming the compensation you may be entitled to. That is why we undertake all medical negligence claims on a no win, no fee basis, including GP negligence claims and misdiagnosis claims.
You will not be taking any financial risk if Blackwater Law represent you in making a GP negligence compensation claim.
The Impact of GP Negligence
Many medical afflictions (particularly serious ones) may become more serious over time if left undiagnosed or untreated, or if the treatment prescribed is incorrect. This can have serious implications for long-term prognosis and lead to the development of further associated health conditions.
- Cancer misdiagnosis allows the disease to progress to a more aggressive and more dangerous stage, regardless of which cancer the patient may be suffering from. This has a direct impact on patient survival rates and the suffering they and their families endure. GPs are often the first point of contact a sufferer will have with the NHS and they’ll usually provide the first diagnosis of the condition. Even where cancer is suspected, not all GPs will follow the guidelines in making an urgent two week referral for the patient to see a specialist – causing what might be critical delays.
- An undiagnosed heart attack or failure to diagnose symptoms associated with a greater risk of a heart attack will lead to the condition going untreated, and the increased risk of a more serious heart attack in the future.
- An undiagnosed stroke, misdiagnosis of a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (sometimes referred to as a mini stroke) can mean the patient is exposed to elevated risks of a similar or more serious stroke occurring again in the near future.
- Failure to identify conditions during pregnancy that pose a risk to the mother or baby, and which may cause birth injuries.
- Failing to diagnose osteopathic injuries such as broken bones and fractures or misdiagnosis of serious leg injuries, arm injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, shoulder injuries as mere aches, pains or bruising, can delay treatment and cause these conditions to worsen. This can cause the patient to suffer long-term effects which could have been avoided if diagnosis and treatment were prompt.
- A GP assessing residents of a care home may misdiagnose malnutrition, injuries from falls (including broken bones and fractures) or early signs of pressure sores, allowing these inflictions to worsen and become more painful. Any of these can be critical to the health of a more elderly, vulnerable patient. Where serious pressure sores are eventually diagnosed, there is likely to be grounds for either a care home negligence claim or GP negligence claim, dependent on the specific circumstances of the case.
- Failure to identify the early signs of cerebral palsy or other developmental problems in children can mean delayed access to vital physiotherapy or occupational therapy. This could permanently compromise their prospects for alleviating the worst effects of their condition.
Even where their implications are not fatal, the failures listed here and indeed any such negligent act on the part of your GP can introduce the need for more extensive, invasive or unpleasant forms of treatment, which may prevent what would have otherwise been a fuller or quicker recovery.
Specialist GP Negligence Solicitors
The experienced medical negligence solicitors at Blackwater Law have a comprehensive understanding of the difficulties patients can face as a result of GP negligence. This expert knowledge is what enables them to secure the maximum available compensation for clients. This financial redress can help you meet the costs of private treatment, compensate you for pain and suffering, reimburse you for financial losses and help you move on from your experience of medical negligence. In the most serious of cases, your compensation claim can provide for any long-term professional care that you or your family member might need.
Free Initial Advice on GP Negligence
The first step to take is to call Blackwater Law for free initial advice, directly from a specialist medical negligence solicitor. You will be able to ask questions and the solicitor will quickly be able to tell you whether you may have grounds to claim for GP negligence compensation.
How to Make a GP Negligence Claim
Following consultation with your Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitor, you may both agree that suing your GP practice is the best course of action. Where this is the case, your claim is likely to be directed to the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
Your expert clinical negligence lawyer will assemble a body of strong evidence in support of your case, before submitting a legal argument to the NHSLA. Your medical negligence lawyer will deal with everything on your behalf and keep you informed at each and every stage.
Blackwater Law will take the time to understand your circumstances and fight for the very best compensation amount possible.
There is no set time-frame for the duration of medical negligence claims against GPs, but once the NHSLA receives the ‘Letter of Claim’ sent by your solicitor, they will have 4 months to respond either with an admission of liability or with intent to contest the case in court (the latter only happens in around 2% of cases). The response given by the NHSLA, in conjunction with the knowledge and support offered by your medical negligence solicitor, will form the basis for any decision relating to the next course of action. You will be kept informed of developments at every stage of the claims process, and your case will always be progressed according to your best interests.
When I met Blackwater Law I felt really comfortable and felt like they would work really hard for me.
Catherine, as featured in above video
Holmes & Hills have dealt with my claim really well. I have a lot to thank them for and would most certainly recommend them to anyone.
Ms Passmoor, Blackwater Law Client
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