How Can Patients Address Medical Negligence from General Practitioner Treatment?

The NHS is one of the most important medical institutions in the world. It is a world-leading system, responsible for some of the great breakthroughs in modern medicine and some of the best healthcare one can ever experience. It is, however, a system in trouble.

Crippled by a noxious combination of poor funding and poor management, today’s NHS is a shadow of its best self. As waiting lists continue to lengthen, and unnecessary deaths continue to mount in the face of unprecedented crisis, the NHS’ shortcomings grow ever-more obvious. This has become particularly apparent in the world of primary care, where GPs are routinely failing new patients. If you are unlucky enough to experience such failure, what is your recourse?

Identifying Medical Negligence

First, it is important to understand exactly where poor treatment becomes negligence. Medical negligence is where a medical practitioner fails in their duty of care to a patient – and where that failure results in a preventable, deleterious outcome. A key example might be in misdiagnosis, where a GP continually fails to properly read the initial symptoms of a debilitating disease; the result might be an irreversible worsening of the same disease, where treatment may have negated a poor outcome.

Seeking Expert Opinions

If you believe the above scenario describes your personal experience, this is enough of a reason to contact medical negligence solicitors. Many solicitors offer free consultation sessions, in which they’ll hear out your side of the story and give their opinion as to whether or not you have a case. They may also offer you no-win no-fee terms, enabling you to cut your losses in the unlikely event that your case is dismissed in some way, shape or form.

Documenting Your Case

In order to make this meeting count, and in order to give your case the strongest possible chance for success, you need to have kept solid records of each interaction you had. Second opinions from other medical practitioners can be especially useful here, too, as they can provide advice for the record regarding your treatability and the nature of your negligent experience. Evidence and testimony are the keys to a swift civil resolution.

Letter of Claim

The legal process can be drawn out with regard to medical negligence cases, but the vast majority are settled before court dates are even mentioned. This happens because of a necessary step in the civil claims process, whereby a solicitor sends a letter before action  (or Letter of Claim) to the would-be defendant in a given case. This letter stipulates the claims you make as a victim, and the value said claims could be worth; the defendant must reply, or go to court – and most replies, where fault is easily determined, are to settle the case before courts get involved.

Emotional and Psychological Support

Whether or not a case goes to court, filing a civil claim for medical negligence is a major life event – and one which, on top of the injurious or negligent event itself, can exact a heavy toll on the mind. It is for this reason that emotional support is a vital component to recovery and recompense.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.