Here for you after injury due to hospital negligence
When medical treatment in hospital has gone wrong or led to unexpected complications and injury it is likely to have had a significant impact on your life. Our medical negligence solicitors are here to help.
Call for a free consultation on whether you have a claim
Experts in hospital negligence claims.
After experiencing hospital negligence you will have a lot of questions, on top of trying to deal with the injuries you have suffered. We're here to help with both.
Our specialist and dedicated solicitors take the time to get to know you and understand what has happened and how it has affected you to provide you with the best advice for your individual circumstances.
This isn’t just an opportunity for you to seek compensation though, but a chance to find out what went wrong so that it doesn’t happen to other people. We work with leading independent medical experts to advise on the standard of care you received. This helps us to explain where your treatment may have gone wrong and if any complications occurred which should not have, and also to advise if you have suffered avoidable injury as a result.
Claiming for compensation
If your injuries are the result of negligent treatment you can claim compensation for the additional pain and suffering, as well as for financial losses, such as loss of earnings, further surgery/therapy costs, travel costs. Our specialist solicitors will work with you to understand the injuries you have suffered and financial losses you have incurred. This way we can submit a claim for the maximum amount of compensation you deserve, as promptly as possible.
Every client and their claim is unique. However we’ll give you the individual advice, help and support you need to achieve the best results for your situation and as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many types of hospital negligence. If you feel something has gone wrong with your treatment or you suffered a worse outcome than expected then you may have a claim.
Some examples of claims relating to negligent hospital treatment which we have advised on include:
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Surgical negligence
This can include carrying out the wrong procedure or causing additional injury during the procedure; retained surgical equipment or swabs causing infections or the need for further surgery to remove the equipment; anaesthetic errors; failing to discuss the potential risks of surgery and any alternative treatment options and therefore failing to obtain your proper consent.
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Mis-reported x-rays and other radiology
Including failures to report abnormalities on x-rays or other types of scans, such as fractures or suspicious masses; or failures to communicate abnormalities on scans.
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Medication errors
Either being given too much medication (an overdose) or too little medication; or even being given medication by the wrong method.
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Falls in hospital
These can occur as a result of failures to support a patient with difficulties moving around in hospital; or failing to properly assess the risk of a patient falling and provide appropriate support, including re-assessing this risk if the patient’s condition changes.
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Infection/sepsis
Infections can occur for a variety of reasons, some negligent (for example as a result of poor hygiene/cleanliness) and some non-negligently. If the infection is then not diagnosed and treated promptly, for example due to a failure to note a change in the patient’s condition/observations, then it can develop and become more serious causing damage to internal organs, or potentially fatal.
Yes, you can bring a claim in relation to either NHS or private treatment. The only difference is that if your treatment was provided privately then the claim may need to be brought against the consultant directly. They and/or the private hospital will most likely be insured.
This is difficult to answer because each claim is unique and the timescale will depend on number of different factors. As a general rule we would say cases typically take in the region of two years to conclude. In appropriate cases we can seek an interim compensation payment, so you don’t have to await the end of the claim.
In England and Wales an adult has three years to commence a claim. Failing to commence Court proceedings within three years can leave your claim out of time. Calculating limitation dates can be complex and therefore it is important to seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity.
There are different rules for children, who can commence court proceedings at any time up until their 21st birthday.
Compensation amounts are unique to each claim and your particular circumstances. You are entitled to claim compensation for your injuries (known as general damages) and also any out of pocket financial losses, such as loss of earnings, treatment expenses, and travel expenses. We will discuss with you the impact of your injuries and what losses you can claim for and ensure that your claim is maximised.
Read our guide to medical negligence claims
Find out more about the process of making a medical negligence claim in our comprehensive guide.
The guide covers everything you need to know from what is considered negligence, when to make a complaint, and timescales, to how compensation is calculated.
- No Win No Fee funding available
- We can help find the right support for you
- Offices serving all of England & Wales
- Track record of successful claims
If you would like to speak to our team, please contact us
“I am delighted with my relationship with RWK Goodman and the service. They are the most responsive and efficient legal firm I have come across and made the negligence case as smooth as possible.”
