An admin error leading to medical negligence could happen at the GP surgery, NHS hospital or pharmacy. The admin error may be a misplaced cancer appointment, a mistake with a prescription or an omission from a surgery list, but the error could lead to medical negligence if it affects your health. 

Doctors, pharmacists, consultants, and administrative staff owe you a duty of care. If they breach that duty of care by making an admin error, you could suffer medical negligence. 

Medical negligence is care below that any other medical professional or administrator would provide in similar circumstances. If you suffer medical negligence, you could have a compensation claim for its effects today and in the future. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can make your claim for medical negligence and get you the compensation you deserve.

Admin error leading to medical negligence

Table of Content

What is an admin error in a medical negligence case?

An admin error in a medical negligence case is when the administrative error, such as not entering your name on a list for surgery, affects your health. You could suffer the effects of a delay in surgery, which could affect your life today and in the future. 

An admin error could lead to you missing vital surgery, receiving the wrong medication at the pharmacy, or not being referred for further tests when you may have cancer. 

Medical negligence is care below a standard which another medical professional would provide. If your health suffers due to an admin error, it could be medical negligence, and you may have a medical negligence compensation claim. 

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can look at your case and see if you have a valid claim for medical negligence compensation.

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Common admin error claims in a medical negligence case

Common admin error claims in a medical negligence case range from surgical negligence to pharmacy and cancer treatment negligence. You are the one who suffered the medical negligence, and you could have a claim for compensation. 

Admin errors can have severe consequences for a patient. They could see surgery cancelled, miss vital cancer treatment appointments or be on the wrong medication for a time. 

Common admin error claims in medical negligence cases:

Common admin error claims

Admin error leads to cancelled surgery for a patient claim

If an admin error in surgery leads to a cancelled operation for a patient, they could suffer the effects of the medical negligence for a long time. The NHS hospital should have a series of checks and counter-checks to avoid such errors, but an administrative error with surgery could still happen. 

Types of admin errors in surgery:

  • Wrong-site surgery when a surgeon is given another patient’s notes
  • Cancellation of surgery due to mistakes with note-keeping
  • Patient was not referred for vital surgery due to an admin error

Medical negligence leading from admin errors can have severe effects. The patient could see delays in vital surgery or undergo unnecessary surgery in cases of medical negligence.

Admin error led to cancellation of cancer treatment claim

An admin error could lead to the cancellation of cancer treatment, and the patient could become very ill before the error is noticed. Cancer treatment is all about early intervention, and avoidable delays could be medical negligence. 

Types of admin errors in cancer treatment:

  • The oncologist fails to refer a patient for vital cancer treatment
  • Errors with storing patient’s medical records
  • Test results were not sent to the patient’s GP in admin error by hospital

Any delay in cancer treatment can have a long-term effect on the patient, and they may be able to claim medical negligence compensation.

Prescription error put a patient on the wrong medication claim

If a prescription error puts a patient on the wrong medication, they could suffer unnecessary side effects and experience delays in beginning the correct course of medication.

Prescription errors can affect how a patient responds to treatment and how they deal with their condition. 

Types of prescription errors due to admin errors:

  • The doctor enters an incorrect dose on the patient’s notes
  • A doctor prescribes a medication, but a prescription isn’t entered in their notes
  • A prescription for medication is not sent to the patient’s GP after surgery

If you suffer from ill health due to an administration error with a prescription, you could have a medical negligence compensation claim.

Admin error leads to wrong medical testing for patient claim

When an admin error leads to wrong medical testing for a patient, the outcome could be very serious for them. Medical testing is a key tool in diagnosis and treatment, and to be sent for the wrong type of test could be medical negligence. 

Types of admin errors leading to the wrong medical tests:

  • Patient listed for an X-ray of leg when a doctor ordered MRI of the head
  • Cancer scan on lungs instead of on the stomach due to admin error in notes
  • Blood tests were not done due to omission in patient notes

Admin errors can have a serious effect on your treatment and on the outcome of your health issues. 

You may have a compensation claim for medical negligence if sent for the wrong medical testing.

Admin error leads to a patient not being referred for further testing claim

If an admin error leads to a patient not being referred for further testing, the cancer or other condition could develop until it is beyond treatment. You need medical testing for diagnosis and to start treatment, but to be not referred for testing due to an admin error may be medical negligence. 

Types of admin errors that could lead to a patient not being referred for testing:

  • The consultant omits the need for further testing on the patient’s notes
  • The patient’s details are not entered into the appointment system
  • Letter from the consultant to recommend testing is not sent to the GP

Any type of admin error can have severe consequences for the patient at an NHS hospital or GP clinic.

Stories of patients being ‘lost in the system’ are not unusual and you may have a compensation claim for medical negligence if you suffer due to an admin error.

Compensation for admin error in a medical negligence case

Compensation for an admin error in a medical negligence case can range from amounts in the low £10,000s to over £10 million in some cases. The consequences of an administrative error by medical staff can be severe, and the resulting medical negligence could be fatal in some cases. 

The medical negligence arising from an admin error could be cancelled vital appointments for cancer treatment, errors during surgery and prescription errors with medications. The medical negligence from admin errors can have many effects on you, and you can claim for those effects today and in the future. 

The compensation awarded for an admin error causing medical negligence in your cancer treatment or when the GP fails to refer you for further testing depends on many factors, such as how much discomfort and disruption you experience in your life today and in the future. 

Claims sometimes see very high awards, such as when a patient becomes very ill due to the wrong treatment or suffers unnecessary pain and anxiety due to admin errors leading to medical negligence.

Compensation for admin errors leading to medical negligence can see awards of:

  • Admin errors lead to delays in cancer diagnosis -£23,780
  • Failing to update patient notes led to medication errors – £32,600
  • Delays in dialysis due to admin errors when making an appointment- £38,560
  • Mix-up in patient notes leading to wrong-site surgery -£67,200
  • Failure to send a follow-up letter to GP leads to unnecessary pain – £73,400
compensation claim calculator

All amounts are approximate and are only a guide to what is possible in an admin error leading to medical negligence claim. Figures can be high in some claims as you or a loved one could need long-term care, and you may face medical bills for life due to errors in admin causing medical negligence in your diagnosis and treatment. 

You may be able to claim for these care expenses and the medical costs in the future with a medical negligence case. 

As in all medical negligence claims, each case is dealt with on merit and how much the patient suffers due to the medical negligence by the NHS medical professionals and administrative staff.

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will advise you on a medical negligence claim. They will know from experience what your case may be worth and how to make a successful medical negligence compensation claim.

Our Process

Our team members have a higher career win rate with a 75% success rate on NHS letters of claim, compared to an industry average of 54.5%.

Enquiry

The first step is to get in touch and tell us what went wrong. It’s free and easy. Call our 24-hour helpline: 0800 246 1122 or request a callback here.

Medical Evaluation

Once you have spoken with our team we’ll let you know how we can help. Typically the next step is to obtain your medical records for us to review.

Legal Letter

Once all your medical records have been received they will be reviewed by a medically & legally qualified member of our team. If there is evidence of negligence we will send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your compensation claim.

Who is eligible for compensation in a medical negligence claim?

The patient who suffers pain and anxiety and sees their condition getting worse due to medical negligence may be eligible to claim compensation. 

Admin errors leading to medical negligence may make their cancer, diabetes or even a broken bone worse, and any subsequent poor medical treatment may also affect their recovery. A patient can claim compensation for the effects of the medical negligence on their life today and in the future. 

You, the patient, are the one to suffer due to the medical negligence after an admin error. The medical negligence may cause your cancer or other condition to worsen or even put your life in danger. 

Medical negligence may lead to psychological trauma, unnecessary pain, and further surgery. The patient may be unable to claim due to the effects of the medical negligence, and their dependants may be able to make the compensation claim. 

The loved ones in a medical negligence case are known as ‘dependents’ and can be:

  • A spouse or former spouse of the injured person
  • Someone who lived with the patient for two years as a husband, wife, or civil partner.
  • Blood children adopted children or those who became children through marriage or civil partnership
  • Parents and those acting as parents, such as a guardian or step-parents
  • Grandparents or great-grandparents
  • Brothers, sisters, cousins, and other direct relatives

When you have a medical negligence claim due to an admin error, your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can help make the case for compensation.

What can you claim for in medical negligence compensation due to an admin error?

You can claim compensation for any damages that occurred when you sue for medical negligence due to an admin error.

There are two types of compensation damages due when suing for any kind of medical negligence, such as that leading from an admin error.

General Damages for medical negligence due to an admin error are when you sue for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity, PSLA, you have experienced due to your condition worsening after an admin error with your treatment or diagnosis. 

  • Pain is that above what is normally expected for your condition, made worse by the negligence 
  • Suffering is the inconvenience and changes to your life that cause you unnecessary discomfort when you experience medical negligence
  • Loss of Amenity is any difficulty you have in doing everyday tasks, such as walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping

Special Damages for medical negligence due to an admin error can include any loss of earnings, future care costs, and out-of-pocket expenses. 

  • Loss of earnings includes compensation for time off work and any reduction of your income in the future 
  • Future care costs are for any care you will need as a result of the medical negligence, causing your cancer, diabetes or other medical condition to worsen 
  • Out-of-pocket expenses cover medical appointments, travel, accommodation, and meals

Be sure to keep payslips, receipts, and proof of any losses you experience due to the medical negligence by the NHS hospital and other administrative staff. 

You deserve compensation to cover all losses, including the loss of life for dependents, medical costs, and long-term care needs. 

When you or a loved one experiences unnecessary suffering due to medical negligence after an admin error, such as that caused by a missed appointment, medication errors or the lack of a follow-up after surgery, you may be able to claim compensation.

medical negligence compensation types

Who can be responsible for an admin error in the NHS?

The NHS is responsible for the admin error leading to medical negligence. Every NHS hospital and trust must follow NHS guidelines and ensure that a ‘Never Event’ does not happen. 

A ‘Never Event’ is outlined by the NHS as an avoidable error. It is a form of medical negligence that has happened in the past, and guidelines should ensure that it is avoided in the future. An admin error leading to medical negligence, such as a mix-up in patient notes leading to wrong-site surgery, should not happen, but it does, and you may have a claim for medical negligence. 

The NHS is a hard-working and excellent health service for the people of the UK. Administrators and medical professionals working within the NHS can make admin errors, though, which may lead to medical negligence.  

Those responsible for your admin errors leading to medical negligence can be:

  • The surgery team who makes an admin error by not sending a letter to the GP
  • The cancer consultant team who makes an error with your prescription
  • The NHS hospital which does not employ fully trained staff
  • The NHS hospital which does not follow guidelines in admin staff training
  • The NHS hospital that does not update computer hardware leading to errors
  • The NHS trust that does not update software security leading to hacks
  • The NHS hospital, which causes a mix-up in your medical notes and records
Who can be responsible in medical negligence

Admin errors leading to medical negligence, like cancelling appointments for treatment by mistake or mix-ups in notes that lead to surgery errors, can have severe, long-term effects on your life and that of your family and loved ones.

When your cancer treatment is delayed due to an admin error, or you suffer from the side effects of the incorrect medication, you may have a claim for the admin error leading to medical negligence.

How to make a claim for an admin error in a medical negligence case

To make a claim for an admin error in a medical negligence case, you need to follow the steps from seeking medical advice to contacting the medical professional responsible to issuing court proceedings, when all other means fail, against that medical professional. 

The steps are a part of any successful medical negligence compensation case, and settlement can happen at any stage in the process. 

Your medical negligence solicitor will do the rest when you follow the steps correctly and gather all the facts and figures.

Seek medical advice on the effects of medical negligence and any unnecessary suffering you experience as soon as you realise you may have experienced medical negligence due to an admin error, such as receiving an incorrect prescription or not getting a cancer treatment appointment.

Contact a specialist medical negligence solicitor who operates on a No Win No Fee basis and tell them what went wrong. The right solicitor will look at the case, see where the problem lies, and advise if you have a claim for medical negligence. 

The Medical Negligence Team also have a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme, where you get all the money awarded in an admin error leading to a medical negligence claim. 

You or a loved one suffered the medical negligence of an appointment cancelled in error or not getting the correct prescription, and you should get all the money due for the effects on your life today and in the future.

Your medical negligence solicitor obtains the medical records with your permission. By reading the records, they will confirm if they think you have a valid claim for medical negligence compensation. 

The medical negligence team will know from your medical records if the case will result in compensation being paid.

The medical negligence solicitor sending a letter of claim to the negligent party is the next step. The letter will ask them to admit the medical negligence in what is known as ‘sending a letter of claim.’ 

When the negligent party receives the letter of claim, they have up to four months to provide a written response. 

Getting a response from the negligent party’s insurer will move the compensation claim closer to a conclusion. 

The insurer will either admit to the claim of medical negligence leading from an admin error or say they intend to defend the case. Deciding to defend the claim is known as ‘deny liability’ in legal terms. 

If they admit liability, your medical negligence claim can be valued, and the two parties will meet to decide on the medical negligence compensation payment. 

Your solicitor will negotiate with the negligent party and use their experience to get the compensation you deserve for any medical negligence in your diagnosis and treatment.

Issuing court proceedings is the next step if they deny liability in your claim for medical negligence after an admin error. 

Going to court happens, too, when they are not prepared to pay a fair amount for the damages you or your loved ones suffered. Your medical negligence solicitor issues the court proceedings.  

Remember that less than 1% of medical negligence cases end up in court, and very few of those cases ever make it to the courtroom.

making a medical negligence claim

Our Process

Our team members have a higher career win rate with a 75% success rate on NHS letters of claim, compared to an industry average of 54.5%.

Enquiry

The first step is to get in touch and tell us what went wrong. It’s free and easy. Call our 24-hour helpline: 0800 246 1122 or request a callback here.

Medical Evaluation

Once you have spoken with our team we’ll let you know how we can help. Typically the next step is to obtain your medical records for us to review.

Legal Letter

Once all your medical records have been received they will be reviewed by a medically & legally qualified member of our team. If there is evidence of negligence we will send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your compensation claim.

Fatal medical negligence due to an admin error

Fatal medical negligence due to an admin error is when the errors in the care of a loved one have led to their death. It could be the cancer treatment was delayed, or they suffered a fatal reaction to an incorrectly prescribed medication, but you may be able to claim for their loss. 

Fatal medical negligence due to an admin error is not unusual. There were over 6,000 cases of prescription errors in the UK in 2022, and 29 people died due to a prescription error. Successful treatment for serious diseases such as cancer and cardiac issues depends on early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. 

When a patient with a severe condition suffers the medical negligence of missed appointments and prescription errors, the outcome can sometimes be fatal, with those left behind to mourn their loss.

The loved ones left behind as a result of admin errors leading to medical negligence may be able to claim compensation. In any medical negligence case, those left behind who can claim compensation are known as ‘dependents.’ 

The dependants who can claim compensation for medical negligence can be:

  • A spouse or former spouse of the deceased
  • Someone who lived with the deceased for two years before death as a husband, wife, or civil partner.
  • Blood children, adopted children or those who became children through marriage or civil partnership
  • Parents and those acting as parents, such as a guardian or step-parents
  • Grandparents or great-grandparents
  • Brothers, sisters, cousins, and other direct relatives
fatal medical negligence

The deceased’s family may be able to claim compensation on behalf of the estate for the fatal medical negligence. 

They may be able to claim for:

  • Mental anguish
  • The economic effects of the death today and in the future
  • The costs of care if the deceased was a carer for a relative
  • Any medical costs due to the negligence, before the death of the loved one
  • Adaptions to the home and car before they passed away
  • Other damages from the fatal negligence, such as loss of income

The dependents of the victim may have a compensation claim, and a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can guide them through the steps in making a claim for fatal medical negligence.

Using a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor

Using a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor is the only way to a successful compensation claim when you experience medical negligence due to an administrative error. Your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will not charge you for a claim you do not win. 

The medical negligence solicitor will have experience dealing with the NHS and insurance companies when handling your admin error leading to medical negligence claim. They will know the causes of any medical negligence and the effects of any medical negligence caused by an admin error. 

Your No Win No Fee solicitor will handle your compensation claim when you suffer medical negligence and how to make it a successful compensation claim.

Always have a fee agreement in place before engaging a medical negligence solicitor. If they start talking of a ‘win fee’ or a ‘success fee,’ you should walk away. The negligent party insurers should pay all fees. 

The medical negligence solicitor should also operate a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme. When you win the case, all the money awarded should go to you, not the solicitor. 

You are the one who experienced medical negligence due to an admin error, and you deserve the compensation to get your life back to normal.

Using a No Win No Fee solicitor

How long do I have to make a claim for medical negligence due to an admin error?

You have three years to make a claim for medical negligence due to an admin error. All medical negligence claims are subject to limitation periods. 

For example, in England and Wales, medical negligence cases must generally be brought and court proceedings issued within three years of the injury or three years of knowledge of the facts giving rise to the claim. 

If someone has passed away due to a breach of duty of care by an NHS hospital leading to medical negligence, it is the date of death if the limitation period has not expired by that time. 

Children not under a disability typically have until they reach 21 to start a medical negligence claim or court proceedings. 

Persons with a disability, who lack capacity, are not subject to any limitation period.

Will I have to go to court with a medical negligence due to an admin error claim?

No, you are very unlikely to have to go to court with a medical negligence due to an admin error claim. 

The majority of cases are settled well before there is a need for court action, and NHS Resolution will see most cases are dealt with, in conjunction with your solicitor, before a referral to court by either side. 

Medical negligence can cause you and your family a lot of distress, and if you discover the errors could be due to an admin error such as a mix-up in patient notes, you will want answers and compensation for the effects of the medical negligence. 

Your solicitor will want to keep the medical negligence claim out of court and get it settled in your favour as quickly as possible. 

If your claim is one of the very few cases that do go to court, it will be handled by your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor. 

Contact The Medical Negligence Team

Contact the Medical Negligence Team today to discuss your claim for medical negligence due to an admin error. You suffered from the effects of the lost patient notes or appointment not made, and you may be able to claim compensation for the medical negligence. 

At the Medical Negligence Team, we fight every compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis, and you will not be out of pocket for an unsuccessful claim. We have both the legal and medical experts to guide you along the steps to a successful claim for medical negligence compensation. 

We have a very high success rate and a reputation for a speedy and successful resolution to medical specialist negligence claims. 

Our 100% Compensation Guarantee puts all the money you win into your pocket. You may have a compensation claim if you experience an admin error leading to medical negligence, such as failing to send out a follow-up letter after surgery or not scheduling further cancer treatment when ordered by an oncologist. 

Contact us at the Medical Negligence Team, and let us handle your claim for medical negligence compensation after an admin error in your care.

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