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Medical negligence solicitors

Claim compensation for a serious medical error, delay or misdiagnosis

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered serious, even life-changing, harm as the result of a medical mistake, delay in treatment or misdiagnosis our highly experienced medical negligence solicitors are ready to help you claim compensation. Call 0800 316 8892 now for a free consultation.

Proving a serious claim against a surgeon, doctor or any other healthcare professional, is not straightforward. We have the specialist legal expertise, the medical knowledge and the extensive experience you need to secure compensation in even the most complex of cases.

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‘This is a very well-organised, compassionate, and pragmatic team. There is a dedicated and thorough approach to cases, which often pays dividends as all possible avenues of a case are explored from the outset.’

Legal 500 2024

Medical negligence claims we can help you with

Although rare, medical mistakes happen, and some can have serious, even life-changing consequences for the patient. The type of medical misdiagnosis claims our experts can help with include:

Misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis

For example:

  • Drawing the wrong conclusion from your symptoms or test results, resulting in receiving the wrong treatment or undergoing unnecessary surgery
  • Being given the correct diagnosis later than it could have been, delaying treatment and negatively affecting your prognosis
  • Not identifying your illness, condition or injury, preventing you from receiving treatment

Late diagnosis or treatment of cancer

For example:

  • A GP or doctor failing to refer you to a specialist or referring you later than they could have done
  • A consultant failing to identify a malignancy from a scan or test results
  • Errors in pathology or radiology such as wrongly reporting test results
  • Essential monitoring or follow-ups failing to happen due to administrative errors
  • Delays in the original diagnosis, investigations or treatment

Injuries to mother or baby during pregnancy or childbirth

For example:

  • Hypoxic brain injuries during or shortly after childbirth
  • Delays in performing a caesarean section
  • Delayed or missed diagnosis of a bacterial infection in the mother
  • Delayed or missed diagnosis of neonatal infections such as Group B strep, sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia
  • Failure to diagnose or treat pre-eclampsia
  • Traumatic injuries to the head during assisted delivery
  • Misdiagnosis of gestational diabetes or antenatal infection
  • Post-partum haemorrhage leading to hysterectomy and anal sphincter injuries

Life-changing amputation or limb loss

For example:

  • Delayed or misdiagnosis of an infection or illness such as diabetes, vascular conditions, meningitis or a bone tumour
  • Treatment of an injury leading to infection
  • A surgeon amputating the wrong limb
  • Compartment syndrome

Serious injury to the head, brain, spinal cord or brachial plexus

For example:

  • Preventable complications during pregnancy or childbirth
  • Delayed or missed diagnosis of an infection or illness such as meningitis, encephalitis or a brain tumour
  • Delayed or missed diagnosis of post-concussion syndrome or cauda equina syndrome
  • Causing damage to the spinal cord during surgery due to poor skills or faulty equipment

Surgical or anaesthetic errors

For example:

  • Failing to check you were eligible for surgery or explain the risks
  • Performing the wrong procedure or operating on the wrong body part
  • Causing a haemorrhage, tissue or nerve damage due to poor skills or faulty equipment
  • Leaving a foreign object inside you
  • Failing to anaesthetise you correctly
  • Causing cardiac arrest or brain injury due to general anaesthetic error

Death as the result of medical negligence

For example:

  • Failing to refer to hospital, diagnose, provide emergency care or surgery on presentation of an acute condition or infection
  • Delays in treatment of cancer or another illness
  • Catastrophic errors during surgery
  • Incorrect medication or incorrect doses being dispensed to the patient
  • Negligence during childbirth leading to a stillbirth or death of the mother

 Why choose us for your medical negligence claim?

  • Specialist solicitors nationwide – don’t worry, if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.
  • Widely recognised medical negligence experts – one of only a few law firms to be accredited by the Law Society’s Medical Negligence Panel and the patient charity Action v Medical Accidents (AvMA).
  • Help to fund your claim  we can help you explore your funding options including ‘no win no fee’.
  • You’ll be in the very best hands – your claim will be overseen by a partner who is also one of our most senior solicitors, never an unqualified case handler.
  • Winning track record – of achieving significant compensation in challenging and complex medical negligence claims.
  • Support far beyond your claim – help with rehabilitation, medical treatment and other legal matters that may arise.

Speak to our expert medical negligence solicitors

Call 0800 316 8892 now or book your free consultation online to discuss your medical negligence claim with one of our specialist solicitors. There’s no obligation to go any further unless you choose to.

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation could I get?

How much compensation will I get?

Every claim is different, but the amount of compensation you could get will take two things into account: the seriousness of your illness or injuries and to what extent they impact your day-to-day life and future prospects.

Here are just a few examples of the compensation we have successfully recovered for our clients:

  • Over £8.6 million for a child with cerebral palsy.
  • £1.5 million for a man who suffered a stroke due to negligence following a heart bypass procedure.
  • £500,000 for a child who suffered brain damage after a GP failed to refer her to hospital with symptoms of dehydration.
  • £750,000 for a man who suffered a stroke following his GP failing to treat high blood pressure.
  • £220,000 following a delay in diagnosing and treating malignant melanoma on the knee.
  • £425,000 damages for the widow of a man whose GP failed to refer him to hospital with an abnormal ECG, which led to him suffering a heart attack and premature death.

How long does a medical negligence claim take?

How long will my claim take?

The time it takes to settle your medical negligence claim will depend on many factors. Complex, high value claims can take a long time whereas simpler claims where the Defendant accepts liability can take around 12 months.

However, no matter how complex your claim, it’s vital that your settlement is carefully considered to ensure your lifelong needs will be fully provided for, regardless of how long this takes to determine.

Where appropriate, we will apply for interim payments so that you can fund the treatment and/or care you need while your claim is progressing.

Is there a time limit on making a medical negligence claim?

It’s vital to seek legal advice as soon as possible after the medical treatment that resulted in you suffering an injury. All medical negligence claims must be brought within three years of the negligent treatment. This means that Court proceedings must be commenced by issuing a claim form at Court within three years.

If you weren’t aware that you suffered an injury as a result of the treatment until later, the three years will run from the date you became aware.

These time limits are set by statute and are rigidly applied. It is very rare for a Court to allow a claim to be brought after the three-year period.

If a claim is brought on behalf of a child, they will have three years from the age of 18 to start Court proceedings (i.e. until they are 21).

How can I fund my medical negligence claim?

Pursuing a medical negligence claim can be expensive. Luckily, there are different funding options available to either limit or entirely remove the cost from you.

For example, you may have an existing insurance policy that will cover the cost, or we may be able to act for you under a no win, no fee agreement. If your claim is for a birth injury, you might be eligible for Legal Aid, provided you meet the qualifying criteria.

Your solicitor will talk you through the funding options available at the outset of your medical negligence claim, to make sure you find the best solution for your circumstances.

Why should I use Clarke Willmott?

With Clarke Willmott, you can rest assured your medical negligence solicitor will be committed to achieving the best possible compensation for you, as well as all the support, rehabilitation and aftercare you need, for as long as you need it.

We’ll listen carefully to you, so we understand what you’ve been through and whether you have a valid claim. If you do, we’ll talk you through the claims process, how much compensation you may be entitled to and how long your claim may take.

Key to proving your claim will be finding the correct medical expert to investigate the evidence. Our extensive experience of complex medical negligence claims means our solicitors can call on some of the most respected, independent experts in their field, who have the specialist knowledge of your treatment and injury, and experience of the litigation process.

I couldn’t have asked for a solicitor with a better understanding of the pertinent issues around the case, or with more patience than Marguarita Tyne…. It certainly made the process a whole lot easier for us….

Jon from London

Kerry Fifield was fantastic. Caring, kind and brilliant and so strong in her beliefs…even when we wanted to give in she inspired us to keep on going. We ended up with justice and an excellent settlement..

Shirley from Gloucestershire

The help and support could not have been better. Vanessa Harris gave advice throughout but also listened to me and handled a very sensitive and painful time with kindness as well as being professional and efficient.

Catherine from Swansea

The service we received was excellent. James Edmondson was brilliant and dealt with our case efficiently and with kindness and sensitivity. I would absolutely use Clarke Willmott again.

Sarah from Witney

I’m very pleased with the service I’ve received. My case was complicated and Isabel Harper was kind and supportive as well as being thorough, always answering queries quickly and with sensitivity. I highly recommend.

Ms SJ

Your key contacts

Marguarita Tyne

Head of Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Bristol
Marguarita Tyne is a claimant clinical negligence solicitor who investigates and brings claims on behalf of patients who have been injured during the course of their medical treatment, acting mainly (but not exclusively) for brain injury claimants in high value and often complex litigation.
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Kerry Fifield

Partner and Clinical Negligence Team Manager

Bristol
Kerry’s primary focus is the needs of the client and their family when pursuing a claim, taking into account that each client is an individual with specific requirements who needs to be supported in addition to the legal investigation.
View profile for Kerry Fifield >

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