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About Hospital Errors

UK Hospital Error and Misdiagnosis Claims Specialists

When you go to the hospital, you trust your doctor and nurses to do their jobs and keep you healthy. Unfortunately, even well-trained and experienced doctors and nurses sometimes make negligent mistakes. When they do, it's usually serious enough that patients need to file for compensation.

The Claim Help Team is UK's premier medical malpractice law firm. We can help you get the money you deserve if you've been affected by a hospital error, no matter how complicated your case is. For a free case assessment, call us at 0800 710 1010 or fill out our quick online claim form.

Wrongful Death Claims

What Is A Wrongful Death Claim?

If a loved one has passed away unexpectedly because of somebody else's negligent actions, it is crucial to take action quickly. We can help you understand your rights and seek the financial compensation that will enable you to cover funeral costs, pay outstanding bills, and move on. Even if your loved one left behind children or a spouse, they are also entitled to compensation. We're here to take care of all the details for you so that you can focus on your grief.

Hospital Errors: All You Need to Know

A hospital error occurs when a patient suffers an injury, loss of life, or loss of quality of life because of negligent actions by medical staff.

Hospital errors are usually the combined result of several mistakes, rather than an isolated incident involving only one doctor or nurse.

The types of hospital errors our solicitors encounter include:

1. Medication Errors

If doctors or nurses administer or prescribe the wrong medication, fail to monitor your condition properly, or don't warn you about known side effects, they could harm you.

Medication errors can occur in nearly every stage of the prescription process:

  • When doctors write prescriptions.
  • When pharmacists fill out prescriptions.
  • When pharmacy technicians complete drug labels.

When multiple parties are involved in the medical process, the chances of errors increase.

2. Problems with Equipment

Hospitals use a wide variety of equipment to diagnose and treat patients. The medical staff must properly maintain this equipment, or it could lead to an error that harms you. For example, if doctors use faulty X-ray machines, CAT scanners, or MRI machines, their diagnoses could be inaccurate or incomplete.

3. Errors Related to Anesthesia

Hospitals use anesthesia to put patients under for surgery. If the anesthesiologist doesn't monitor vital functions, give you enough pain medication, or responds too slowly when your condition changes, it can cause long-term health problems.

Unlike most other hospital errors, anesthesiology mistakes result in death more often than not.

4. Hospital-Acquired Infections

Hospitals have some of the highest concentrations of harmful bacteria in the country. Suppose doctors and nurses don't correctly sterilize equipment, fail to use sterile techniques, or accidentally contaminate a patient's incision site with contaminated instruments. Such can lead to life-threatening infections that cause complications and may require additional surgeries.

5. Missed or Delayed Diagnosis

If doctors fail to diagnose a serious condition, they could cause further harm by administering the wrong treatment. If a hospital staff member doesn't document a condition in your medical records, doctors might not know about it at all. If they don't collect the proper tests or use faulty lab equipment to analyze your results, they could miss out on diagnosing a severe problem.

6. Avoidable Delay in Treatment

When doctors and nurses wait too long to respond to emergencies or urgent care needs, it can worsen health problems and even cause death.

One of the most common types of hospital errors is diagnostic mistakes, which occur when doctors fail to accurately identify a patient's condition. For example, if your doctor suspects you have a heart attack but doesn't perform any tests to confirm this and then gives you the wrong treatment (e.g. antibiotics for a heart attack), the condition could worsen.

7. Inadequate Follow-up after Treatment

If a hospital staff member fails to schedule follow-up appointments or doesn't provide you with enough information about taking care of yourself after treatment, it could lead to long-term health problems.

8. Inadequate Monitoring after a Procedure

If a doctor performs a procedure and doesn't monitor the patient correctly afterward, dangerous complications like infections or internal bleeding could occur.

9. Failure to Act on Test Results

If doctors or nurses don't act on test results, it can delay treatment and cause additional harm to the patient. For example, if a doctor doesn't order a follow-up CT scan after an initial MRI shows signs of a brain tumor, the tumor could grow larger without being treated in time.

10. Failure to Treat Injuries

A failure to treat injury claims may arise when a patient has an injury and does not receive proper treatment for it. This can happen if they are told that waiting is the best course of action or prescribed wrong treatment. The staff's incorrect diagnosis or failure to diagnose can often result in further harm to the patient or in unnecessary surgery.

How do I Prove Hospital Error?

How do I Prove Hospital Error?

If you believe hospital negligence caused you harm, filing a claim won't be enough. When medical staff makes an error, they often document it in your medical records. If the result is a missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, your health care provider will include details about your condition and its treatment.

Depending on your case and how strong it appears, the following may be required to lay the fault on the hospital/medical provider:

  • Medical records: This consists of the entire record of what occurred during your stay at the hospital. The chart notes and test results are vital information that will help establish the extent of your injuries or illness and how you were treated.
  • Specific instances where medical staff failed to uphold their professional duties, such as misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, and other medical errors, should be noted in your medical records.
  • An absence of notes might indicate that hospital staff did not follow up on administering proper care or provide you with the necessary treatment if they failed to document your condition.
  • In some cases, a third-party witness who observed the events leading to your injuries can strengthen your case.
  • Hospital personnel who witnessed the events may also provide additional information about your injuries.

If you or someone you love suffered harm or medical malpractice because of hospital negligence, contact The Claim Help Team today. We offer a free and confidential consultation, so call us at 0800 710 1010 or contact us online.

Time Limits in Which You Can Make a Hospital Errors Claim

How Much Time Can a Hospital Error Claim Take?

If you or a loved one suffered from medical negligence, the process of filing a claim could be lengthy. Averagely, hospital error claims take 12-36 months to close. The duration varies based on the complexity of a case, sustained injuries, and the defendant's cooperation.

Time Limits in Which You Can Make a Hospital Errors Claim

You only have three years to make a claim for medical negligence, otherwise known as the time limit. After this period passes, your case will no longer be valid. However, there are times when you can make an exception and file out-of-time claims.

Who Is Responsible for Hospital Error Claims?

Who Is Responsible for Hospital Error Claims?

The hospital or medical provider who committed the mistake that caused your injury is responsible for compensating you. This can be a doctor, anesthesiologist, nurse, pharmacist, and other staff members involved in your treatment.

Hospital negligence compensation claims are rarely filed against the patient themselves because they have no control over what happens to them during treatments.

A hospital error claim can be brought against anyone or more of the following:

  • An employee who a private organization employs.
  • An employee who works directly for the NHS.
  • The NHS trust.

There are times when it's challenging to identify the responsible party, and so your case may need to go up all the way to court.

What Is the Average Hospital Negligence Compensation in the UK?

What Is the Average Hospital Negligence Compensation in the UK?

The average compensation for a hospital negligence claim is about £50,000. This is according to data provided by the National Health Service Litigation.

However, this amount can vary widely depending on your case's circumstances and which hospital you visited.

For example, if you received an injury during surgery and need to take extended periods of sick leave due to your illness, the hospital negligence compensation amount could be higher.

Claims Made for Hospital Errors in the UK:

What Kind of Compensation Can Be Claimed?

A hospital negligence claim can often lead to various compensation amounts depending on your injury and the type of treatment you received. Potential damages include medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other losses like funeral expenses resulting from the injury.

Wrongful Death from Hospital Errors

A wrongful death claim is filed against the responsible party when an individual dies due to injuries sustained at a hospital. This type of medical malpractice lawsuit can lead to compensation for financial expenses, like funeral costs, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering that you or your family experienced because of the incident.

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

If you are in discomfort or pain or have financial losses because of hospital negligence, we can help ease your suffering. We offer free and confidential consultations, so call us at 0800 710 1010 or contact us online to learn more about the best way to handle your case.

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What Is Involved in Making a Hospital Negligence Claim?

What Is Involved in Making a Hospital Negligence Claim?

  • Your first step to recovery is filling out the online contact form on this website.
  • Your submission will be sent directly to one of our expert team members, who will begin gathering information about your case.
  • They will then meet with you at a location convenient for you and discuss all the details so that you understand what's involved in making a claim.
  • From there, an initial personal injury assessment will be carried out to determine what your claim is worth.
We Provide No Win No Fee Hospital Error Claim Help

We Provide No Win No Fee Hospital Error Claim Help

We provide no win, no fee hospital error claims help. This means if we do not win your case, you will owe us nothing. Therefore, you have absolutely nothing to lose by getting in touch with our team and taking the first steps to seek justice and recover damages for your case.

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£82,040 - £255,930

This range of compensation covers the amputation of both complete arms, the amputation of a single arm, or whether an arm is amputated partially or completely. Future restrictions will also be considered. (This figure doesn't take into account special damages).
Claim Help Medical Team

Medical Malpractice Claims

Whether your health care professional was at fault for an incorrect or delayed diagnosis, surgical error, or medication mistake, we can fight for the financial recompense that will enable you to pay your bills and begin the process of recovery. We will help you understand your case and advise whether it is best suited for a lawsuit or an out-of-court resolution.

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Motor Vehicle Accident Claims

Were you or a loved one hurt in a car crash, truck accident or in a motorcycle collision? Our lawyers can help ensure that your claim is handled quickly and efficiently so that you can get on with your life. We aim to provide exceptional legal services at an affordable cost.

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Claim Help Work Team

Workplace Injury Claims

If you have been injured at work due to someone else's negligence, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and ongoing disability. We have helped hundreds of workplace injury victims recover the financial compensation they need to pay their bills and achieve some sense of closure. Leave it to us to take care of all the details – we will deal with the insurance company and ensure that your claim is handled quickly and efficiently so you can rest easy.

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Claim Help Injury Team

Personal and Bodily Injury Claims

Have you been physically or psychologically injured due to somebody else's negligent behaviour? We can help ensure that your claim is handled quickly and efficiently so you can recover the financial compensation you need to move on. It doesn't matter if it was a car crash, slip and fall, sexual assault, or other personal injuries – we will fight for you to get the justice you deserve.

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