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GP Negligence Claims

Reviewed by

Peter Rigby - Director of Medical Negligence | Last updated on: 20th August, 2024

We've got your GP Negligence Claim covered


GP Negligence Claims

For most of us with a medical problem, our first port of call is our general practitioner (GP.) We have a referral system in the UK whereby we visit our GP first, who makes an assessment and then will refer us on to the specialist needed to further assess the problem, or provide a diagnosis there and then, and recommend treatment or prescribe medication.

Making a GP Negligence Claim

Errors made by your GP can be devastating. At times, our clients often feel that their GP could have done more to support them. For example, when GPs dismiss symptoms as ‘nothing’ when they could have referred you on for further treatment or assessment. Sometimes this means a delay in diagnosis, causing weeks or months of pain that could have been avoided if they had got it right the first time. In severe situations , such as misdiagnosis of cancer, those delays in treatment can literally be a matter of life and death.

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What is GP negligence?

General Practitioners are held to the same standards as other medical professionals and owe their patients appropriate and adequate levels of care. If a GP fails to carry out their duty of care correctly or if the care that you receive is substandard, this can have huge consequences and the impact can be devastating. In these unfortunate instances, this could be considered negligent care from a GP.

It is therefore vital that your GP takes the time to listen to you, considers everything they are being told, and then makes the right assessment as to what should happen next. Failing to see the right specialist can prolong your illness and not being referred for scans or x-rays that should have been authorised can mean conditions go undetected and untreated. Your GP is the gateway into the NHS, and to the treatment you need, so it is important that they get it right.

What are some common claims I might make against my GP?

Radiology & x-ray misdiagnosis claims

Radiology and X-rays are critical tools that medical professionals rely on to diagnose a wide range of conditions. However, if a GP fails to refer a patient for these vital scans or if there is a misinterpretation of the results, the consequences can be severe. Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis due to improper handling of radiology and X-ray results can lead to conditions going untreated or worsening, sometimes with life-threatening outcomes.

 

At Patient Claim Line, we understand the complexity and stress that these situations bring. Our experienced team of medical negligence solicitors is here to help you navigate the process of making a claim if you believe that you’ve been a victim of radiology or X-ray misdiagnosis. We will thoroughly review your medical records, consult with witnesses, and build a strong case to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Like all our services, we operate on a No Win, No Fee basis, ensuring you can pursue your GP Negligence claim without financial risk.

 

Am I eligible to make a claim?

If you have experienced negligent healthcare from your GP, it is possible that you could claim compensation for suffering that you have faced.

GPs have a tough job to do, but mistakes are made. If you have been misdiagnosed, or feel you should have received treatment sooner than you did, then you could be entitled to make a claim.

Patient Claim Line is here to advise you on this. The best thing to do is get in touch with us and we will be able to advise you very quickly on whether or not you have grounds for a claim. It costs you nothing to find out if you have a case, and all our claims are dealt with by specialist Medical Lawyers, on a strictly no win no fee basis.

How can we help?

Our team of medical negligence solicitors understand the stress, frustration, and even anger that a negligent GP can cause you. We will listen to you and we will be able to advise you very quickly if we think your GP has been negligent. We take on many cases involving GPs, and will obtain all your GP and hospital records to be able to assess what has gone wrong and ensure you are fully compensated for any unnecessary pain and suffering. If you were or are unable to work, we will ensure those costs are included in your compensation claim as well.

How can I make a claim against my GP?

If you feel that you have been misdiagnosed or given the wrong treatment, then you could be entitled to make a claim. The simplest way of determining if you have a claim is to hire a legal professional to handle the process for you. At Patient Claim Line, we will listen to you and examine the evidence to identify if there is a claim. The amount of compensation you could receive will depend on the severity and complexity of the harm you have suffered and any financial losses or expenses.

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Why Choose Patient Claim Line for your GP Negligence Claim?


Not just lawyers — medical negligence experts

Patient Claim Line was established in 2014 and consists of a team of medical lawyers specialising in cancer negligence and general medical negligence claims.

At Patient Claim Line we have more than 100 solicitors with a combined experience of over 400 years and they will work on your behalf to achieve the best result possible for you.

It’s not enough to use a solicitor who sometimes covers medical negligence. You need someone who knows this area through and through. That is what the solicitors here at Patient Claim Line do. They deal exclusively in this area of law and are experts in the field.


Frequently asked questions about GP Negligence Claims

Our expert legal team answer your questions about making a GP Negligence Claim

As medical professionals, GPs are given a lot of trust by their patients. If you believe that this trust has been breached and your GP has put your health at risk as a result of their negligence, then the law provides a remedy for you to obtain compensation. It is possible for you to sue any doctor who works in an NHS hospital, private practice, or GP surgery. Any Doctor treating you owes you a duty of care, so if that duty was breached and you have suffered as a result, then you may have a claim for compensation.

If you have been the victim of GP negligence, then specialist medical negligence solicitors like Patient Claim Line can help. Our legal team can collect evidence on your behalf and guide you through the claims process, to help you get the compensation you deserve.

The length of your GP negligence claim will largely depend on the nature and severity of your case. In some cases the claims process can take several months, in others it may be longer. Due to the unique nature of each case, however, it’s difficult to make a general estimation of how long your claim will take. For a clearer idea of how long it takes to make a GP claim, you may wish to speak to a solicitor. At Patient Claim Line, we offer a free legal advice phone line so you can access qualified legal information. Our medical negligence specialists are experienced in all kinds of negligence cases, including GP claims, and can help to simplify the claims process.

Not just lawyers — medical negligence experts
Patient Claim Line was established in 2014 and consists of a team of medical lawyers specialising in medical negligence and misdiagnosis claims. At Patient Claim Line we have more than 100 solicitors with combined experience of over 400 years and they will work on your behalf to achieve the best result possible for you. It’s not enough to use a solicitor who sometimes covers medical negligence. You need someone who knows this area through and through. That is what the solicitors here at Patient Claim Line do. They deal exclusively in this area of law and are experts in the field.

If you would like to make a GP negligence claim, this should be done within three years. The threeyear period will begin either from when you or your loved received negligent care or from when you became aware that negligent treatment occurred. It is important to seek legal advice within the three-year window as you may otherwise miss out on compensation you are be entitled to. If the case involves anyone under 18, the legal case must be pursued within three years from the date of their 18th birthday.

During the negotiation stage of your GP negligence claim, your solicitor will begin to negotiate with the negligent party. The aim is to recover you any out-of-pocket losses, rehabilitation costs & compensation. Compensation secured for our clients in the past has funded home adaptations, mobility support and physiotherapy.


Meet our GP Negligence Team

  • Peter Rigby

    Director of Medical Negligence

  • Bilal Qasim

    Associate, Senior Solicitor

  • Sophie McGarry

    Solicitor Apprentice

  • Sowmya Jagannath

    Senior Solicitor


  • Case Study

    Sarah's Story

    "Now we have peace of mind"

    My husband, Nick, went back and forth to the doctors for a long time and tried everything the doctor recommended. But his illness got worse, to the point that he was in agony.

    In the end we got so desperate that we asked for a referral. The doctor was reluctant, so we had to consult a private hospital. That’s when we found out there was a tumour. It took years from the onset of his illness to finally start cancer treatment.

    He used to be a man with a lot to live for, but in the end he was in so much pain that he withdrew from the family. He became angry that nobody had helped him sooner, and the legal team were able to give him the validation that he was desperately seeking. The NHS confirmed if they had done more, Nick would still be alive today.