Hospital Negligence Claims
If you’re in London and want to make a hospital negligence claim, we could help you to secure the compensation you deserve.
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If you have suffered avoidable harm because of substandard care in a London hospital, you may be eligible to make a hospital negligence claim. This could involve surgical errors, a delayed diagnosis or an infection caused by inadequate hygiene practices. You may be entitled to compensation if the care you received fell below acceptable medical standards and caused you unnecessary harm.
Our specialist hospital negligence solicitors can assess your circumstances, investigate what went wrong and help you seek compensation for the impact on your health and daily life. We understand how difficult it can be to challenge the care you received and can guide you through the claims process.
Read on to learn more about hospital negligence claims, including who can claim, how compensation is calculated and how our solicitors can help. Alternatively, you can contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
- Call 020 7362 2087
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- Contact us online today.
What Is Hospital Negligence?
Hospital negligence happens when the care you receive in a hospital falls below reasonable medical standards and results in unnecessary harm. After treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College Hospital, or any other London facility, you may make a claim if medical mistakes have caused you unnecessary suffering.
Different Types Of Hospital Negligence
Hospital negligence can occur when medical professionals provide care that falls below the expected standard, causing patients avoidable harm. This can happen during diagnosis, treatment or recovery in NHS and private hospitals across London.
Examples of hospital negligence that could lead to a compensation claim include:
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis: A doctor fails to identify a serious condition, causing a delay in treatment that allows your health to deteriorate.
Surgical errors: A surgeon operates on the wrong body part or accidentally damages an organ during a procedure due to substandard care.
Medication errors: Hospital staff administer the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage, causing harmful side effects or complications.
Hospital-acquired infections: Inadequate infection control measures expose you to preventable infections, such as MRSA.
Birth injuries: Mistakes during labour or delivery cause avoidable injuries to you or your baby.
Accident and Emergency (A&E) errors: Hospital staff fail to recognise symptoms requiring urgent attention, resulting in delayed treatment and further harm.
Experiencing one of these incidents does not automatically mean you have a valid claim. However, if substandard hospital care caused you avoidable harm, our hospital negligence solicitors can investigate what happened and advise you on your eligibility for compensation.
What Are The Criteria For Hospital Negligence Claims?
To make a hospital negligence claim, you must show that the care you received fell below the expected medical standard and caused you avoidable harm. This applies to treatment provided in both NHS and private hospitals across London.
The three main criteria for hospital negligence claims are:
Duty of care: NHS and private hospitals in London owe patients a duty to provide an appropriate standard of medical care. This applies when you receive treatment from doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals.
Breach of duty: You must show that your hospital treatment fell below the expected medical standard. Examples include surgical negligence, a delayed diagnosis or medication errors caused by a failure to provide reasonable care.
Causation: You must demonstrate that the hospital’s negligence caused or materially contributed to avoidable harm. For example, a failure to diagnose a serious infection could lead to sepsis, while a surgical error could cause permanent nerve damage.
Our hospital negligence solicitors can obtain relevant medical records, arrange independent expert assessments and investigate whether you have grounds to claim. If your case is accepted, they can also manage the legal process on your behalf while you focus on your recovery.
Contact our team today to discuss your hospital treatment and find out whether you could be eligible for compensation.
The Hospital Negligence Claims Process
The hospital negligence claims process involves establishing whether substandard medical care caused you avoidable harm, gathering supporting evidence and seeking compensation from those responsible. Our solicitors can guide you through each stage of making a claim against an NHS or private hospital in London.
Time Limits For Making A Hospital Negligence Claim
You generally have 3 years to start a hospital negligence claim, either from the date you suffered harm or from when you first became aware that your injury may have been caused by substandard medical care. This time limit is set out within the Limitation Act 1980.
However, different time limits can apply in certain circumstances:
Claims involving children: The 3-year limitation period does not begin until your child’s 18th birthday. A parent or responsible adult can make a claim on their behalf before then by acting as their litigation friend.
Claims involving reduced mental capacity: If the injured person lacks the mental capacity to manage their claim, the usual 3-year time limit is suspended.
Date of knowledge: If you only discovered that your injury may have resulted from hospital negligence some time after your treatment, the 3-year period may begin from that later date.
Gathering Evidence For Your Hospital Negligence Claim
Evidence is essential when proving that hospital negligence caused your injury or worsened an existing condition. The documents required will depend on the treatment you received and what went wrong.
Evidence that could support your hospital negligence claim includes:
Hospital medical records: Clinical notes, discharge summaries and treatment records can help establish what care you received and whether mistakes occurred.
Independent medical expert reports: An appropriately qualified expert can assess whether your treatment fell below acceptable medical standards and whether this caused avoidable harm.
Financial records: Receipts, payslips and invoices can demonstrate expenses or lost earnings resulting from your injuries.
Witness statements: Accounts from relatives or other people who witnessed your treatment or subsequent difficulties may provide additional supporting evidence.
If you believe you suffered avoidable harm during hospital treatment in London, contact our team today. We can discuss your circumstances and explain how we could help you pursue compensation.
What Hospital Negligence Compensation Covers
Hospital negligence compensation can cover the physical, psychological and financial consequences of avoidable harm caused by substandard medical care. If you have suffered an injury due to medical negligence at a London hospital, your compensation could reflect both the impact on your health and any financial losses you have experienced.
Compensation awarded in successful hospital negligence claims is divided into two categories:
General damages: Compensation for the pain and suffering caused by hospital negligence. This includes physical injuries resulting from surgical errors, psychological harm following negligent treatment or complications caused by a delayed diagnosis.
Special damages: Compensation for financial losses resulting from negligent hospital treatment. These could include lost earnings following a surgical injury, rehabilitation costs after a misdiagnosis, additional medical expenses or the cost of ongoing care for a serious birth injury. Future financial losses may also be included.
How Are Hospital Negligence Settlements Paid?
Hospital negligence settlements are generally paid as a lump sum once your claim has been resolved. However, claims involving serious injuries, such as permanent brain damage or birth injuries, may include periodical payments to help cover ongoing care and support.
The amount of hospital negligence compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries, their long-term effects and the financial losses you can demonstrate.
Our specialist hospital negligence solicitors can assess the impact of your injuries, gather evidence of your financial losses and help you pursue compensation that reflects your circumstances.
Contact our London hospital negligence team today to discuss how much compensation you could be entitled to claim.
How Our No Win No Fee Solicitors Can Help
Our No Win No Fee hospital negligence solicitors can help you pursue compensation if substandard treatment at a London hospital caused you avoidable harm. They can investigate what went wrong, gather supporting evidence and manage the legal process on your behalf.
Our solicitors can help build your hospital negligence claim by:
Obtaining independent medical evidence: Arranging specialist assessments to establish whether surgical errors, delayed diagnoses or other hospital failings caused you avoidable harm.
Investigating hospital safety procedures: Requesting relevant infection control records, incident reports or staff observations to establish what precautions were taken during your treatment.
Calculating financial losses: Gathering payslips, rehabilitation invoices and care expense records to assess the financial impact of your injuries and support your compensation claim.
Our solicitors can also handle correspondence with the hospital or NHS Resolution and negotiate compensation on your behalf.
How Does No Win No Fee Work?
Our hospital negligence solicitors may offer to represent you under a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. This means you would not pay their service fees upfront, while your claim is ongoing or if it is unsuccessful.
If your hospital negligence claim succeeds, a success fee will be deducted from your compensation. This fee is a legally capped percentage and will be explained to you before the claims process begins.
Contact Our Team Today
If you believe you’ve experienced avoidable harm during hospital treatment, don’t hesitate to take the next step. Professional guidance can make all the difference as you seek answers and fair compensation.
To check if you can make a London hospital negligence compensation claim:
- Call us on 020 7362 2087
- Use our live chat
- Contact us online today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I know if I have a hospital negligence claim?
You may have a claim if you received substandard medical care in a London hospital which directly caused harm or worsened your condition. A solicitor can assess your case and advise whether the evidence supports a negligence claim.
What compensation can I receive for hospital negligence?
Compensation can cover both physical and psychological injuries as well as associated financial losses, such as lost income, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs resulting from negligent care.
What types of hospital negligence can I claim for?
You may be eligible to claim for hospital negligence involving surgical errors or a misdiagnosis. Claims can also arise from medication mistakes, preventable infections or substandard care during childbirth.