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This information is about clinical negligence. This is when care provided by a healthcare professional falls below an acceptable standard and results in physical or mental injury, or death.
Most people are happy with the treatment and care they get from the healthcare professionals looking after them, so when mistakes are made it's an extremely distressing situation to be in. If injury has occured, some people may decide to seek legal advice and bring a clinical negligence claim.
We can't advise you about whether it's right for you to make a legal claim, but we hope that this information answers your questions and directs you to other organisations that can help and support you.
A clinical negligence claim is different from making a complaint| about the treatment or care you've received. In a clinical negligence case you are asking for money to compensate for injury or death. The main objective of making a complaint is usually to get answers about what went wrong, receive an apology or be told that changes to practice will be made to prevent it from happening again.
Sometimes negligence may happen if:
A claim for clinical negligence may go on for a long time. The process is often stressful, and can take up a lot of your time and energy. It may also be costly. You may already have other demands to cope with if your health is affected. So it’s always a good idea to think it through carefully before you begin and to get some advice.
You may find that the outcome you want can be achieved by raising your concern with healthcare professionals, your local PALS (Patients Advice Liaison Service)| or using the complaints procedure.
Generally the more serious the consequences of an error, the more reasonable it would be to consider getting legal advice about bringing a clinical negligence claim.
The Law Society| and Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA)| have a referral panel of solicitors specialising in clinical negligence and who are accredited by them.
You must start proceedings within three years from the date you knew, or ought to have known, that a mistake may have resulted in an injury.
The Court has the power to extend the three-year period when it's reasonable to do this, but this happens rarely. The three-year period doesn't begin to run until a child's 18th birthday. A child therefore has until they're 21 to begin a legal claim.
If you think you have a case for a clinical negligence claim, you’ll need to get a solicitor who is an expert in this field.
The Law Society and Action Against Medical Accidents has details of accredited clinical negligence solicitors and can help put you in touch with one in your area.
Ask your solicitor about their experience in investigating and handling clinical negligence claims, especially if they've had any similar claims to your own case.
You will need a copy of your medical records and possibly copies of scans and x-rays. You don’t have to give a reason for asking to see your records and they should be given to you within 40 days of your request. You will usually have to pay for this service. It’s usually under £50 depending on the amount of information in your records.
Your solicitor will seek an opinion from an independent medical expert to establish whether or not there is a potential claim for negligence. The expert will base their opinion on your medical records, your own statement about what happened and any other documentation that supports your case. If the medical expert supports your case the solicitor will go ahead with the claim.
Your solicitor then writes a letter about your claim to your hospital or doctor. They have three months in which to carry out an investigation and reply to the allegations of negligence. They may accept or deny responsibility. If they don’t accept responsibility you may need to go to court.
Clinical negligence claims rarely end up in court. Most cases are settled after all the investigations are completed and before legal proceedings are started. Both sides are encouraged to settle the matter quickly and to avoid running up extra costs.
Your solicitor will talk to you about how your legal costs will be covered. There are different ways of doing this, and you may be entitled to some help with your costs:
Taking out a claim for clinical negligence can be a difficult and distressing experience. It may be painful to be reminded of what has happened to you and to have to frequently go over it.
If you still need medical care you may find it hard to trust the healthcare professionals looking after you. It may be helpful to mention this to them so they can understand your concerns.
You’re likely to experience a number of different feelings and at times these can be overwhelming. Each person has their own way of coping with difficult situations. Some people find it helpful to talk to friends or family, while others prefer to get help from people outside their situation. Some people prefer to keep their feelings to themselves. There’s no right or wrong way to cope.
The organisations listed below may be able to offer you advice and support. You may find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor who can listen and help you deal with difficult emotions|. Our cancer support specialists| can give you advice about finding a counsellor in your area.
44 High Street, Croydon CR0 1YB Helpline 0845 123 2352 (Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm) Email advice@avma.org.uk| www.avma.org.uk|
An independent charity that works exclusively for the victims of medical accidents. A medical accident is classed as an injury caused as a result of medical treatment or a failure to diagnose an illness. AvMA provides free, independent advice and support, and has caseworkers who help people through the process of making a clinical negligence claim.
113 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PL Tel 020 7242 1222 Email via the website www.lawsociety.org.uk|
26 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7YR Tel 0131 226 7411 Email lawscot@lawscot.org.uk| www.lawscot.org.uk|
96 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3JZ Tel 028 9023 161 Email via the website www.lawsoc-ni.org|
All of the Law Societies aim to improve access to the law and can provide help with finding a solicitor.
www.pals.nhs.uk|
Provides information, advice and local support to help patients, families and their carers.
PO Box 935, Harrow HA1 3YJ Helpline 0845 608 4455 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am–5pm) Email helpline@patients-association.com| www.patients-association.com|
The helpline provides information on a wide variety of issues, ranging from finding local support groups for certain medical conditions, NHS services and support groups, to what patients are entitled to, making a complaint and listening to patients’ experiences. During busy periods or outside opening hours, an answering service is available.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.