Medical Negligence Solicitors in London

We provide specialist help with medical negligence claims right across London, from the City and Westminster to every outer borough. Whether you were harmed in a major teaching hospital, a busy A&E department, a local GP surgery, a dental practice or a private clinic, our medical negligence solicitors can explain whether you may have a claim and what happens next.

Choose your borough below to find more local and specific information.

London Boroughs We Cover

• Barking and Dagenham
• Barnet
• Bexley
• Brent
• Bromley
• Camden
• City of Westminster
• Croydon
• Ealing
• Enfield
• Greenwich
• Hackney
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Haringey
• Harrow
• Havering
• Hillingdon
• Hounslow
• Islington
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Kingston upon Thames
• Lambeth
• Lewisham
• Merton
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Richmond upon Thames
• Southwark
• Sutton
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest
• Wandsworth

Medical Negligence Help for Every Part of London

London has one of the largest and most complex healthcare systems in the world. Millions of patients are treated every year across dozens of NHS trusts, hundreds of GP practices and a large private healthcare sector concentrated in central London. The vast majority of that care is excellent. When something does go wrong, though, the consequences can be life-changing: a cancer that should have been spotted months earlier, a surgical mistake that leaves lasting damage, or a birth injury that affects a child for the rest of their life.

Many Londoners are referred between several hospitals during a single course of treatment, for example from a district general hospital in an outer borough to a specialist centre in central London. That can make it harder to work out where the care fell short and which organisation is responsible. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors will look at the whole care pathway, not just the last appointment, before advising you.

What Is Medical Negligence?

Medical negligence, also called clinical negligence, happens when a healthcare professional provides care that falls below the standard expected of a reasonably competent practitioner in the same field, and that failure causes the patient avoidable harm. To bring a successful claim, two things normally have to be shown:

• Breach of duty: the care you received fell below an acceptable standard. The courts test this by asking whether a responsible body of medical opinion would have supported the treatment given, known as the Bolam test.
• Causation: on the balance of probabilities, the substandard care caused your injury or made your condition worse than it would otherwise have been.

A poor outcome on its own does not always mean negligence has occurred. Some treatments carry known risks even when they are carried out perfectly. That is why claims are investigated using your medical records and independent expert evidence before any allegation is made.

Negligence can also arise from a failure to obtain informed consent. Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board (2015), doctors must tell patients about any material risks of a treatment and about reasonable alternatives. If you were not properly warned about a risk that then happened to you, you may have a claim even if the procedure itself was performed correctly. Read more about lack of informed consent claims in our dedicated guide here.

Types of Medical Negligence Claims in London

Medical negligence covers a wide range of situations. We’re able to help with nearly all types of cases, including those below.

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis

A missed, wrong or late diagnosis can allow a treatable condition to progress, leading to more invasive treatment or a worse prognosis. Find out more about misdiagnosis claims and delayed diagnosis claims, including cancer cases where a delay has affected treatment options or survival.

Hospital Negligence

Errors on hospital wards can include missed observations, falls, pressure sores, hospital-acquired infections and unsafe discharge. Our guide to hospital negligence claims explains how claims against London NHS trusts and private hospitals are investigated.

A&E Negligence

London’s emergency departments are among the busiest in the country. Pressure on A&E is understandable, but it does not excuse missed fractures, undiagnosed strokes or heart attacks, or patients sent home too early. Emergency department errors are covered in our guide to hospital negligence claims.

Surgical Negligence

Surgical errors range from wrong-site surgery and retained instruments to nerve damage, organ perforation and poor post-operative care. Learn more about surgical error claims.

Birth Injury and Maternity Negligence

Mistakes during pregnancy, labour or delivery can cause serious injuries to mother and baby, including brain injury, cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy and severe perineal tears. See our guide to birth injury claims.

GP Negligence

Your GP is usually the first point of contact for any health concern. Failing to refer, missing red-flag symptoms or prescribing the wrong medication can all have serious consequences. Prescribing mistakes are covered in our guide to medication error claims, and missed referrals often lead to delayed diagnosis claims.

Sepsis

Sepsis can become life-threatening within hours if it is not recognised and treated urgently. Delays in giving antibiotics or escalating care are a common cause of avoidable harm.

Medication and Prescription Errors

Wrong drugs, wrong doses, dangerous interactions and ignored allergies can occur in hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacies. Learn about medication error claims.

Dental Negligence

Dental negligence includes undiagnosed gum disease, failed implants, nerve damage and unnecessary extractions, whether the treatment was NHS or private.

Cosmetic Surgery Negligence

Central London is home to many private cosmetic clinics. If a cosmetic procedure has left you with scarring, disfigurement or a result far below what you were told to expect, you may be able to claim against the clinic or surgeon responsible.

Fatal Medical Negligence

Losing a loved one because of avoidable medical errors is devastating. Bereaved families may be able to claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and may also need support at an inquest.

Claims Against London NHS Trusts and Private Providers

Most medical negligence claims in London are brought against NHS trusts, GP practices or private healthcare providers. Claims against NHS bodies in England are handled by NHS Resolution, which manages compensation claims on behalf of the NHS. GP claims are also covered by state-backed indemnity arrangements. Private hospitals, clinics and individual consultants are usually covered by their own insurers.

Many patients worry that making a claim will affect their future treatment. It should not. You remain entitled to NHS care whether or not you bring a claim, and you can ask to be treated by a different clinician if you would feel more comfortable.

A claim is separate from the NHS complaints procedure. A complaint can produce an explanation and an apology, but it cannot award compensation. You can make a complaint and pursue a claim at the same time, and the response to a complaint can sometimes provide useful evidence.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Medical Negligence Claim?

Strict time limits apply under the Limitation Act 1980 in England and Wales:

• Adults: you normally have three years from the date of the negligence, or three years from the date you first knew, or reasonably should have known, that you had suffered significant harm that may have been caused by it.
• Children: the three-year period does not start until their 18th birthday, so a claim can usually be brought up to their 21st birthday. A parent or guardian can bring a claim on their behalf before then.
• People who lack mental capacity: the time limit does not run while a person lacks capacity to conduct their own affairs.
• Fatal claims: families generally have three years from the date of death, or from the date they learned the death may be linked to negligence.

Medical negligence claims take time to investigate properly, so it is sensible to seek advice as early as you can. Acting early protects your position and makes it easier to gather records and witness accounts while memories are fresh.

How Does a Medical Negligence Claim Work?

Every case is different, but most claims follow a similar path. You can generally expect:

1. Initial discussion: a solicitor talks through what happened and gives an early view on whether you may have a claim.
2. Obtaining medical records: records are requested from every hospital, GP or clinic involved in your care.
3. Independent expert evidence: specialist medical experts review your care and advise on breach of duty and causation.
4. Letter of Claim: your solicitor sets out the case formally to the healthcare provider or NHS Resolution.
5. Letter of Response: the defendant normally has four months to investigate and say whether liability is admitted or denied.
6. Negotiation and settlement: most claims settle without a trial. If a fair offer is not made, court proceedings can be issued.

What Should I Do Before Speaking to a Solicitor?

You do not need to have everything in order before making an enquiry, but the following will help a solicitor assess your case more quickly:

• A short timeline of your treatment, including dates, hospitals and clinicians where you know them.
• Any letters, discharge summaries, test results or complaint responses you already hold.
• Notes of conversations with medical staff, written down as soon as possible.
• Receipts for costs you have incurred, such as travel, prescriptions, private treatment or care.
• Details of how the injury has affected your work, family life and day-to-day activities.

How Much Compensation Could I Receive?

Compensation reflects the impact the negligence has had on your life, so there is no fixed amount. It is usually made up of two parts:

• General damages: for pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the injury.
• Special damages: for financial losses and costs, such as lost earnings, care and assistance, private treatment and rehabilitation, travel to appointments, home adaptations and future losses.

In serious cases where liability has been admitted, a solicitor can often apply for interim payments before the claim concludes, so that rehabilitation, care or adaptations can be funded without waiting for a final settlement.

How Are Medical Negligence Claims Funded?

Many medical negligence solicitors take on suitable claims under a no win, no fee arrangement, known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. If the claim is unsuccessful, you will not normally pay your solicitor’s fees. If it succeeds, a success fee is deducted from your compensation, capped by law. Our solicitors will explain every potential charge in writing before you decide to go ahead.

Legal aid is generally not available for medical negligence claims, with a limited exception for some severe birth injury cases. You may also already have legal expenses insurance through a home or car insurance policy, so it is worth checking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, you can find answers to some common questions we get asked about working with our medical negligence solicitors in London.

Can I claim against the NHS?

Yes. You have the same right to claim against an NHS trust or GP as against a private provider, and NHS claims are handled by NHS Resolution rather than the clinicians who treated you.

Will my claim go to court?

Most medical negligence claims settle without a trial. Court proceedings are sometimes issued to protect the time limit or move the case forward, but a contested hearing is relatively uncommon.

How long does a medical negligence claim take?

It depends on the complexity of the case. Straightforward claims may resolve within one to two years, while serious cases, particularly birth injuries, can take considerably longer because the long-term prognosis needs to be known.

Can I claim on behalf of a family member?

Yes. A parent can claim for a child, a litigation friend can claim for an adult who lacks capacity, and close family members may be able to claim after a death caused by negligence.

Speak to a Medical Negligence Solicitor in London

If you believe you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence anywhere in London, call 020 7362 2086 or make an online enquiry to tell us briefly what happened. Making an enquiry does not commit you to anything and does not, on its own, create a solicitor and client relationship. You can also select your borough from the list above for local information about medical negligence claims in your area.