Medical Negligence Solicitors in Newcastle

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No one likes to go to the hospital unless it is necessary. Still, when we visit, we usually receive high quality medical care and feel better. However, things can go wrong from time to time. When a hospital treatment, diagnosis, or surgical procedure does not go to plan, and the error was due to negligence on the part of a healthcare professional, you may be entitled to a claim. If you are in Newcastle and have been a victim of medical negligence, our medical negligence solicitors in Newcastle will be happy to represent you.

What is Medical Negligence?

In simple terms, medical negligence is when the quality of medical care you receive falls below what is reasonably expected of the health professional in charge of your treatment. It is also known as ‘medical malpractice’ or ‘clinical negligence’ and applies to all health professionals, including doctors, surgeons, nurses, dentists and all medical staff working in both private and public sectors.

Your medical professional has a duty of care to act with a reasonable degree of knowledge and skill to ensure your safety as a patient. If he/she fails to live up to this standard and you suffer harm as a result, then you may seek the help of a solicitor to help you fight for your compensation.

Making Medical Negligence Claims in Newcastle

A medical negligence claim usually depends on being able to prove that a health professional breached the standard of care expected of them, causing the patient an injury or illness. Proving medical negligence can be complex; this is why we advise victims of medical negligence in Newcastle to seek legal advice and support as soon as possible.

Do you feel guilty about making a medical negligence claim in Newcastle? This is understandable, especially if you have always received quality medical care for your treatment. However, you should rest assured there is no cause for concern.

Your medical negligence solicitor in Newcastle will handle the claims process on your behalf and, in the rare instance that your case goes all the way to trial, we will also support you. A successful medical negligence claim in Newcastle begins with the right solicitor as it gives you a chance to secure the compensation you deserve within the shortest possible time.

Medical Negligence Claims in Newcastle Our Team Can Handle

Medical Misdiagnosis Claims

Misdiagnosis happens when a health professional wrongly diagnosis a condition or misreads a test result. For instance, your doctor may diagnose cancer when indeed your symptoms indicate a different condition. Misdiagnosis can also be delayed diagnosis, or failing to diagnose a condition at all.

On its own, misdiagnosis does not provide enough grounds for a compensation claim; you must be able to establish that your doctor’s misdiagnosis caused you an injury or illness, or made your existing condition worse. The knowledge and experience of our medical negligence solicitors in Newcastle can help you successfully claim compensation.

Hospital Negligence Claims

Many medical negligence claims are related to the hospital stay of patients. Negligence can occur in any hospital department:

The Accident and Emergency department may wrongly diagnose a patient’s condition or fail to refer the patient to a specialist;
Inadequate patient monitoring leading to bleeding or fractures;
A specialist may misread test results.

Negligent treatment at a hospital can also lead to infection. Germs and bacteria in a hospital can be dangerous even for a healthy person; this means an already ill person may suffer devastating consequences when exposed to such conditions.

Care Home Negligence Claims

Care home negligence cases has increased at an alarming rate over the last decade. This does not mean that care home facilities are no longer safe for the elderly and vulnerable; in fact, most care homes in the UK keep up with the standard of care expected of them. But as our medical negligence Lawyers in Newcastle know, some care homes fall short of the standard. Care home negligence may include:

Inadequate training of staff leading to patient prescription errors or mistakes in handling patients.
Poor staff strength may increase the risk of malnutrition and pressure sores.
Poor supervision can lead to falls and fractures where they move without adequate support.

Medical Negligence Direct can help you determine whether the care you or a loved one received was negligent.

Prescription Error Claims

Prescription errors are avoidable medication errors that have the potential to cause a patient harm. A health professional may provide a wrong prescription if:

He/she fails to check whether a patient has allergies;
They fail to determine whether it will interfere with the medication you are already taking;
They fail to check whether the specified dosage is ideal for your age and weight.

At Medical Negligence Direct, our medical negligence lawyers in Newcastle also handle prescription error claims against pharmacists, particularly if it involves incorrect labelling or dispensing the wrong medication.

Surgical Error Claims

Mistakes during surgery are rare which is impressive considering the number of operations performed in UK hospitals every year. But surgical negligence still happens nonetheless. Whether you are having a simple operation or undergoing a more complex procedure, your surgeon and medical professionals have a duty of care to inform you of the risks associated with the procedure as well as any alternatives, and act within their knowledge and skill to minimize these risks.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Expect?

Every medical negligence claim is unique. Therefore, compensation for negligent treatment will depend on a number of factors, including:

The nature and severity of your injury or illness
The level of pain and suffering
Medical expenses incurred as a result of medical negligence
Financial losses – current and future
Cost of adaptations required for your car or home

When you contact us, our medical negligence solicitors in Newcastle will consider the above factors when calculating the compensation you deserve.

How Compensation for Medical Negligence Can Help

Compensation may not completely eliminate the effects of the negligent treatment you suffered, but can go a long way to aid your healing. Here are some benefits of a financial settlement:

Compensation can cover out of pocket expenses you have incurred as a result of your injury or illness.
It covers the cost of ongoing care you need to recover.
It provides the finances you need to live a more comfortable life.
It may not get you an apology, but can help future claimants who suffer the same type of negligent treatment.

Is There a Time Limit for Making Medical Negligence Claims in Newcastle?

There is a general three-year time limit for making medical negligence claims in the UK. This three-year time limit begins to run from the date you received the negligent treatment or the date when you became aware that your injury or illness was due to the treatment you received.

The exceptions to this time limit apply when medical negligence involves children or those who are mentally disabled and unable to make a claim on their own. For children, a “litigation friend” – usually a parent or family member – can make a claim on their behalf at any time before they turn 18. The three-year time limit begins from the child’s 18th birthday.

No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitors in Newcastle

At Medical Negligence Direct, it is our goal to ensure victims of medical negligence in Newcastle have access to quality legal representation. This is why the vast majority of claims we handle are funded on a No Win No Fee basis; under this arrangement, you do not have to pay any upfront legal fees. You also do not pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.

If your loved one has suffered harm as a result of medical negligence and a re unable to pursue a claim themselves, you may be able to do so on their behalf. If you are considering making a medical negligence claim in Newcastle, we advise that you speak with a solicitor at the earliest opportunity. The sooner you let us know, the easier it will be to obtain supporting evidence.