You sue your doctor for negligence by contacting a medical negligence solicitor. Ideally, you should find a law firm with a GP as part of their team. The Medical Negligence Team has a GP as a full-time staff member, and their experience is priceless.

A medical negligence law firm specialises in all forms of medical negligence. They have the expertise and the experience to guide you along the steps of a medical negligence compensation claim.

You want a quick resolution to the GP negligence case so you can get on with your life. The Medical Negligence Team settles cases quickly obtaining GP negligence compensation for their clients.

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Why sue my GP for negligence?

You sue your GP for negligence because they made a mistake, and you suffered an injury because of that mistake. You should not have to suffer for their negligence and deserve compensation for what happened.

We trust our GP always to give us top quality medical treatment. What we do not expect is GP negligence that may affect us or a loved one for life.

It costs money to fix a medical error. 

The compensation you get from your GP negligence claim will pay for the medical treatment and care you need to fix the problem.

What is GP Negligence?

GP negligence is when your doctor gives you medical treatment below the standard expected of a medical professional. The GP’s negligence causes you injury or severe illness, which would have been avoided if they did their job properly.

There are many types of GP negligence where you can sue for compensation. A successful compensation claim for GP negligence follows a few simple steps, and your medical negligence solicitor will guide you through the process.

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If you have been a victim of any form of medical negligence? We specialise in pursuing damages against negligent healthcare providers. 

It’s free and easy to speak with one of our team of medical negligence professionals.

What do you need for a successful GP negligence claim?

For a successful GP negligence claim, you need to show Breach of duty Causing injury. This is known as the BC of GP negligence. 

The Breach of duty is the GP’s negligence, and you can sue your GP for that negligence Causing injury.

Some common types of GP negligence

Some common types of GP negligence appear in compensation claim cases over and over again. Unfortunately, doctors make the same negligent mistakes, and patients continue to suffer. 

A look at a few types of GP negligence shows how easily it happens and how it can affect your life.

Types of GP negligence include:

  • Failure to refer a cancer investigation
  • Missing the symptoms of a serious condition
  • Not actioning a request for further tests

Failure to refer a cancer investigation

Failure to refer a cancer investigation is a common GP negligence compensation claim. The National Institute for Health Care Excellence, NICE, issues guidelines for GPs to follow. 

The clear NICE guidelines for cancer state when a GP should refer a patient onto the fast track, two-week wait for further investigation.

If a GP does not follow those guidelines and your cancer develops, then you can sue your GP for negligence. 

NICE guidelines for bowel cancer

NICE guidelines for bowel cancer indicate when a GP should refer anyone for the two-week wait. Referral should happen when they meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Aged 40 and over with unexplained weight loss and abdominal pain 
  • Aged 50 and over with unexplained rectal bleeding 
  • Aged 60 and over with one of:
    • Iron-deficiency anaemia
    • Changes in bowel habit
    • Tests show occult blood in their faeces

NICE guidelines for skin cancer

NICE guidelines for skin cancer indicate that your GP should refer you with a score of seven or more on the following weighted, seven-point checklist. 

Major features of the lesions (scoring 2 points each):

  • change in size
  • irregular shape
  • irregular colour

Minor features of the lesions (scoring 1 point each):

  • largest diameter of 7mm or more
  • inflammation
  • oozing
  • change in sensation

When your GP does not follow the NICE cancer guidelines and cancer develops, then you can sue your GP for negligence.

Missing the symptoms of a serious condition

Missing the symptoms of a serious condition can only make the disease worse. Your condition will not improve without treatment, and early diagnosis is key to a good outcome with any disease.

Your GP may miss symptoms of meningitis, appendicitis, sepsis or necrotising fasciitis and many other diseases they should recognise. Often a condition is not spotted until you are seriously ill and are rushed to A&E.

Negligence in missing the symptoms of a condition lies behind many GP negligence compensation claims. 

Not actioning a request for further tests

Not actioning a request for further tests is a serious form of GP negligence. An A&E department may write to your GP for a request for further treatment if, for example, you attend A&E with blood in your urine. 

If your GP does not action that request due to forgetting or being too busy, it can seriously affect your health. Instead of being investigated for renal cancer, they send you home, and your condition gets worse

When you are diagnosed with advanced renal cancer, you will ask why it was missed earlier. You would have to consider suing your GP, if their negligence delayed diagnosis and treatment for your cancer.  

Schedule Your Callback

If you have been a victim of any form of medical negligence? We specialise in pursuing damages against negligent healthcare providers. It’s free and easy to speak with one of our team of medical negligence professionals.

The steps to follow when suing your doctor for negligence

The steps to follow when suing your doctor for negligence are easy to manage. When you know what you are doing and how to do it, your GP negligence case will go quickly.

Step 1: Seek medical advice

Seek medical advice as soon as you realise you have suffered GP negligence. A  medical professional will listen to your complaint, do a medical examination and confirm what needs to be done to seek to catch up with the delay in treatment.

Step 2: Contact a medical negligence solicitor

Contact a medical negligence solicitor who specialises in GP medical negligence cases. A top-quality medical negligence solicitor will know what to do next and advise you on further action.

Always employ a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor who will not charge you in case of an unsuccessful claim. 

At Medical Negligence Team we operate a No Win No Fee policy. We also have a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme where you keep every penny of your compensation.

Step 3: Your solicitor obtains your medical records

Your solicitor obtains your medical records with your permission. Once they receive your medical records from the GP and any hospital involved, the notes are reviewed to confirm if you have a winnable negligence case.

Obtaining GP records where a loved one has passed away was a complex process. Previously, an application had to be made to Primary Care Support England. A medical professional would then have to review and redact documents before they could be released. 

Thankfully since 1 April 2022, this process has now stopped, and the records can be obtained from the GP practice.

When your solicitor identifies clear negligence by your GP, they can sue your GP for compensation for you or a loved one.

Step 4: Sending a letter of claim

Sending a letter of claim is the next step when your medical records show you have a sustainable GP negligence claim. Your solicitor will write to the negligent party outlining your claim and request an answer admitting the negligence.

Once your GP receives this letter, they have, via NHS Resolution, four months to respond to it.

Step 5: Getting a response from the GP

Getting a response from the GP should happen within the mandatory four months. If GP negligence is admitted, your GP negligence claim can be valued and settled. 

If the GP denies liability, your solicitor will consider issuing court proceedings. 

Step 6: Issuing court proceedings

Issuing court proceedings happens when your GP’s solicitor denies liability for the negligence. It can happen too if the offer of compensation is below that due to you for the GP negligence which occurred.

Your solicitor will advise you on what to accept and issues any court proceedings for you.

People often worry whether they will have to attend court to give evidence but less than 1% of all GP negligence cases end up in court. 

At Medical Negligence Team we use our experience to sue for a quick resolution to all cases.

We fight for our clients!

“Medical Negligence Team Law quickly settled my medical negligence claim and I received 100% of the compensation recovered. I would highly recommend them.”

Miss P.R , North Yorkshire

“Following open surgery in October 2022 I continued to have pain in my wound. It was discovered a piece of drain had been left inside me causing me pain and suffering and the need to have a further surgical procedure to remove it. In June 2023 Medical Negligence Team Law completed my claim and I got 100% compensation awarded. Thank you.”

Mrs B, Hertfordshire

“I am happy to accept the £3,000 compensation, I just want to thank you for helping me with this! Your service has been amazing!”

Miss M.P., West Yorkshire

“I required Tegretol medication for my underlying epilepsy and nocturnal seizure control but my pharmacy gave me something completely different by mistake. As a result after many years of having no seizures I had a number of seizures, a fall and needed time off work. The Medical Negligence Team got me the compensation I deserved including money for lost wages. They also paid 100% of the compensation to me with no deductions.”

Mr J.B., Kent

“Medical Negligence Team Law won my pharmacy negligence claim and I received 100% of the compensation recovered.”

Mr G.P. , South Yorkshire

“Great service and communication from everyone at Medical Negligence Team Law throughout my claim. They handled my claim on a No Win No Fee basis and I received 100% of the compensation recovered.”

Miss A.W , Liverpool

“My pharmacy incorrectly gave me fast acting insulin causing problems with my blood sugars which made me very unwell for one month until the mistake was discovered. Medical Negligence Team Law quickly settled my claim and I received 100% of the compensation with no deductions.”

Mr G.W. , Lincolnshire

“I needed surgery to remove an ovarian cyst. The NHS did the wrong operation first time round and they drained rather than remove the cyst. I then had to have a further operation to do the operation they should have done first time round with significant pain in between as the cyst came back. Medical Negligence Team quickly settled my claim. I received 100% of the compensation and was delighted with the service and communication throughout. They really are medical negligence experts”

Mrs T.S., South Yorkshire

“Our pharmacist gave my husband the incorrect medication and while on holiday and taking the medication my husband became seriously ill. We had to rush home from Spain as a result of this. Medical Negligence Team recovered the costs for our abandoned trip and compensation for the pain my husband endured while he was recovering. They were very friendly, responsive and we received 100% of the compensation with no deductions.”

Mrs A.P., Worksop

“My pharmacy issued me with quetiapine rather than venlafaxine which had a significant impact on my mental health. Andy, Anthony and the team at Medical Negligence Team were incredibly helpful and obtained compensation for the pain and suffering I endured as well as payment for loss of earnings. They paid all the compensation, 100%, to me. I would highly recommend them.”

Mrs S. R., Peterborough

“I fractured my wrist and Barts Hospital Trust in London failed to arrange appropriate follow up in the fracture clinic and as a result my surgery was delayed. Medical Negligence Team Law obtained all my medical records and radiology and quickly settled my claim. I received 100% of the compensation recovered with no deductions”

Mrs C.M., London

“Your care and support was outstanding, making me feel supported and reassured and you kept in constant contact with any worries I had explained and swiftly responded to thank you, would recommend highly.”

Mr B.H., Brighton

“My late father had a fall in hospital breaking his hip which required surgery. The fall was due to a lack of supervision. Medical Negligence Team won our case and got us the compensation we deserved. We received 100% of the compensation recovered. Many thanks to all the team at Medical Negligence Team. Would definitely recommend them.”

Mr D.C., Nottingham

“Medical Negligence Team Law quickly settled my claim. They were friendly and helpful throughout the whole process and above all I received 100% compensation recovered with no deductions.”

Mr S.B., Northamptonshire

“A leaking IV iron infusion caused permanent staining to my arm. I received £13,000 compensation,100% with no deductions. Would recommend Medical Negligence Team to anyone.”

Mrs R. R., South Yorkshire

How long will it take to sue my GP for negligence?

It can take nine to 18 months to sue your GP for negligence. If negligence is readily admitted on behalf of the GP by NHS Resolution, your case can be quickly settled.

The Medical Negligence Team is fast and aims to settle cases as quickly as possible in your favour for full 100% compensation. 

It is important to remember that your solicitor can only finalise the valuation of your GP negligence claim when your future condition and medical prognosis are known. 

In these cases, where the GP negligence is accepted, but the final valuation cannot be immediately reached, your medical negligence solicitor can request interim damages payments. 

The interim payments are deducted from the final settlement figure.

Are you eligible for compensation?

If you want to obtain compensation for the negligence you have suffered, we have a simple 3 step process to make sure you get the money you deserve

  • Take our online assessment & speak with our team

  • Our team of doctors and lawyers will undertake a full medical review based on your medical records

  • We will send a legal letter of claim and our solicitors will pursue your compensation on your behalf

All case reviews are 100% cost and commitment free.

How much can I claim for GP negligence?

You can claim from £1,000 to more than £1M when you sue a GP for negligence. As in any compensation process, the amounts vary depending on how serious the GP negligence is.

When you sue a GP for negligence, you seek compensation for general damages and special damages.

General damages

General damages are for injury as a direct result of medical negligence, such as pain, suffering and illness

A general damages claim can vary from £1,000 to £2,000 for a medication error which caused three to five weeks of pain and suffering. 

A missed diagnosis may lead to higher amounts, of more than £400,000 being awarded for general damages if limbs were lost as a result of a delay in diagnosis of meningitis then special damages would be added on top of that figure. 

Special damages

Special damages are included in a compensation award for GP negligence where there is a need for long-term care or a loss in future earnings. 

An example would be where a GP misses a meningitis or sepsis diagnosis. If you lose both limbs above the knee, as a result, the special damages compensation would typically run into millions. 

The compensation is for the loss of limbs, but most of the payment would be for future care costs, the need for home and vehicle adaptions and prosthetic limbs, and the loss of salary. 

Have you experienced negligence from a GP recently?

Contact us at the Medical Negligence Team if you experience GP negligence. You should act as quickly as possible and get the compensation you deserve for any suffering. At Medical Negligence Team we operate a No Win No Fee policy and a 100% Compensation Guarantee. You will get all the money you are awarded from your compensation claim. 

We offer a speedy and successful service to win your case. Contact us today for all your medical negligence needs.

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