Medical negligence claims for delayed treatment

Delays in medical treatment can occur for many reasons, including a misdiagnosis or failures in the referral process. For many medical conditions, the speed at which treatment is administered can have a significant effect on the outcome for the patient. This means that late or delayed treatment can have serious consequences.

If you have suffered because your medical treatment was delayed, you may be entitled to compensation. Thompsons’ medical negligence solicitors have been helping people with their delayed treatment claims for many years. As specialists in medical negligence law, we can advise you as to whether your compensation claim is likely to be successful.

To discuss your claim, call us on 0800 0 224 224 or make an enquiry.

Contents:

• What is a delayed treatment claim?
• Can I make a delayed treatment claim?
• What conditions can I claim for?
• Is there a time limit to make a claim?
• What is the process for making a medical negligence claim?
• No win, no fee delayed treatment claims
• How much compensation can I receive for delayed treatment?
• How can Thompsons help me claim compensation for late medical treatment?

What is a delayed treatment claim?

A delayed treatment claim is a legal claim for compensation made when a patient's health deteriorates because of late treatment.

While most people receive the appropriate medical treatment from health care staff, there are times when necessary or urgent treatment is delayed, or not provided at all.

Your medical provider, whether NHS or private, has a duty of care towards you. If essential treatment is not delivered on time, this is a breach of duty of care and can be classed as medical negligence.

Can I make a delayed treatment claim?

You are entitled to make a delayed treatment claim if medical negligence has taken place.

Here are some examples where you may be able to make a claim for negligent late treatment:

• Your doctor or GP failed to diagnose your symptoms
• You were not referred to a specialist
• A medical professional diagnosed your condition incorrectly
• You were not prescribed the right medication or at the correct time
• Administrative errors caused delays in your referral
• A failure to conduct follow-up assessments meant you did not receive appropriate care
• Long waiting times for surgery or treatment led to your condition deteriorating.

If you are unsure if you are entitled to compensation, please contact our specialist medical negligence lawyers on 0800 0 224 224 for free legal advice. Alternatively, you can request a call back here.

What conditions can I claim for?

You can make a delayed treatment claim for a medical condition that has worsened due to treatment not being administered in an appropriate time frame.

Some common conditions we see in delayed medical treatment claims include:

• Cancer
• Heart conditions
• Stroke
• Meningitis
• Infections
• Sepsis
• Orthopaedic conditions

However, this is not an exhaustive list, and our lawyers will consider delayed treatment claims for any type of medical condition.

It’s important to note that if you made a swift recovery, or there has not been a significant or long-term impact on your health, it may not be worth pursuing a claim for late treatment.

Is there a time limit to make a claim?

The general rule is that you have three years to make a medical negligence claim, including delayed treatment compensation claims. This means you have three years from the date you realised you have been harmed because of late treatment (commonly referred to as the ‘date of knowledge’) to make your claim.

Those who have tragically lost loved ones due to delays in treatment have three years from the date they died, or from the date of knowledge (whichever is later) to make a delayed treatment claim.

In medical negligence cases involving children under 18, the three-year time limit is not applicable.

There are other exceptions to the three-year rule in medical negligence claims, so it is important to speak to a specialist medical negligence lawyer without delay.

What is the process for making a medical negligence claim?

If you are looking to make your delayed treatment compensation claim, contact our specialist medical negligence team today on 0800 0 224 224 or complete our online enquiry form to arrange a free, no obligation consultation.

One of our expert medical negligence solicitors will explain the claims process and our no win, no fee policy. If you want to go ahead, we will discuss the next steps in pursuing a compensation claim.

No win, no fee delayed treatment claims

Making a delayed treatment claim with Thompsons Solicitors could not be easier, and thanks to our no win, no fee policy, there is nothing to lose with no upfront or hidden legal costs. In the highly unlikely event that we make a claim and it is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay a thing.

How much compensation can I receive for delayed treatment?

Each claim is different and the amount of compensation you can claim for delayed treatment will depend on your own personal circumstances.

The following factors will be taken into consideration when deciding the delayed treatment compensation amount:

• The extent of any injury or illness caused by the negligent medical treatment
• Expenses incurred, including loss of income
• Future needs, including treatment and rehabilitation.

The value of a claim can be quite difficult to determine, but our highly experienced lawyers will provide you with an informed estimate based on the above information.

How can Thompsons help me claim compensation for late medical treatment?

We secure millions of pounds in compensation every year for people who have been victims of medical negligence, whether the result of botched surgery or delayed medical treatment.

Get in touch with our medical negligence team today for free legal advice and to discuss your options after suffering from delayed treatment medical negligence.