Medical Negligence Solicitors In Plymouth
Whether accessing health care through the NHS, or private providers, most people being treated by healthcare professionals in the UK will be treated extremely well. However, with the large scale of health and social care operations across the UK (both in the NHS and private sectors), undoubtedly on occasion things do go wrong. In this guide, we will look at the circumstances under which you may need to start a medical negligence case and use a solicitor.
Most medical negligence claims are caused by negligent behaviour on the part of healthcare providers. This could be negligence on the part of a GP, dentist or hospital staff member. The circumstances which can lead to medical negligence include; a medical practitioner failing to diagnose a condition correctly, or making the wrong diagnosis. It can also include not diagnosing the condition in time to treat it. Medical negligence may also be caused by mistakes in treatment, such as surgical errors, or being prescribed the wrong medication. Other causes could be the failure of the chief practitioner to fully inform and warm the patient about their treatment options and risks.
Patients who need to use a solicitor in Plymouth, or elsewhere in the UK to make a claim for clinical negligence will need to be able to show that their treatment was carried out in a negligent manner. The patient (or claimant as they shall be referred to) may also need, or be able to show that the care was below the expected standards and that the treatment was the direct cause of the negative consequences suffered.
To successfully make a claim, claimants need to prove that they were injured by the treatment, or that their condition was made worse by any treatment provided. This is known as showing a breach of the claimant’s duty of care. To successfully make a claim, a claimant must do the following;
- Demonstrate that the defendant owed them a duty of care.
- Be able to show that the defendant breached this duty of care.
- Show that this breach or negligence was the cause of the illness or injury.
At Legal Expert, we work with a panel of solicitors across the UK. Whilst we may not always have a solicitor based in your town or city, we could have one who covers your local area. The solicitors we work with across the UK can work with patients in the NHS and private sectors, helping them to recover the compensation they are owed.
How To Find The Best Solicitor For Your Case
Before you can make a successful private or NHS medical negligence claim, you need to find an experienced solicitor to work with. Wherever you live in the UK, there will be lots of different medical compensation solicitors ready to work with you. So, how do you find the right medical compensation lawyers for your case? Many people start by talking to colleagues, family, and friends who have previously used a solicitor. One of the best ways to find medical negligence solicitors in Plymouth, Devon or elsewhere in the country is to read different reviews of medical compensation lawyers. This can help to provide you with impartial feedback.
Read Reviews Of Plymouth Medical Compensation Lawyers
If you are looking for a medical compensation solicitor, you can find reviews of solicitors in your local area and across the UK both online on legal websites, as well as offline in local papers. Even a few years ago it would have been a more difficult process to find impartial reviews of medical compensation legal services, however today the web has made it much easier to find and evaluate different solicitors services. Reading reviews of previous cases of medical negligence in Plymouth, or where you live, can give you a good idea of solicitors experienced in these cases.
There are a few things you should take into account when reading reviews of NHS medical negligence law firms. Compare different levels of service, as well as service provision. Look at whether they provide a no win, no fee service. Whilst looking for reviews of solicitors with terms such as ‘best medical negligence lawyer near me’ could provide you with reviews of solicitors, talking through your case is always better. Legal Expert is a trusted advisory service who work with solicitors across the country.
Why Should I Use Local Medical Claims Lawyers
One of the most common questions people ask when initially hiring a solicitor is whether or not they need to use a medical negligence solicitor in Plymouth, or if I can use a lawyer based anywhere in the country? Today as well as digital services, traditional professional services can be provided from anywhere in the country. You may initially be looking for solicitors who are close to you but find that even the most experienced solicitors in your area are not right for you. It could be that a solicitor elsewhere could be better placed to help you. By using digital tools, such as email, secure messaging services and video conferencing, a lot of the work on your case can be carried out without the solicitor being local to you. There may be some parts of your claim which do need to be carried out in your local area. This could be any medical consultations or examinations needed to gather evidence of the extent of your injuries. If this is needed, a solicitor may be able to organise this for you.
Different no win, no fee solicitors could be able to secure you different levels of compensation, depending upon their level of experience. A successful compensation claim will be made up of two types of award. The first type is general damages. This covers ‘pain and suffering’ caused by the injury, as well as any loss of amenity which results from it. Loss of amenity refers to the inability to do what you did before. The second type of damages which may be paid out is contingent damages, also known as special damages. This includes compensation for any expenses, such as costs or loss of income, which the claimant suffers. Each solicitor, will have their own track record in securing compensation. As such, they may have different fee structures.
The Different Types Of Medical Negligence Compensation Claims We Handle
Clinical negligence or medical negligence are the technical terms for this type of personal injury compensation claim. In general, they will include claims which are made against a healthcare provider or healthcare professional. This could be against a GP or dentist and will allege that they have breached the duty of care that they owed to you as a patient. The solicitors we work with who can help with medical negligence Plymouth claims are experienced professionals and can cover a wide range of case types. Below are examples of some of the different types of claims they can assist claimants with.
Hospital Negligence Solicitors
Hospital medical negligence solicitors in Plymouth and across the south of the UK can help with claims against hospitals in this area, including the main Derriford Hospital, and private hospitals such as the Nuffield Health hospital in Plymouth. The panel of clinical negligence specialists that we work with across the country can help claimant to seek the compensation that they deserve after negligent treatment at hospitals across the country.
Dental Negligence Compensation Claims
Dental negligence cases can involve serious injuries and illness which can lead to lasting consequences and even result in people permanently losing their teeth. Our panel of specialist medical and dental negligence solicitors can help with compensation claims against dentists. These claims may include incidents and injuries, or illness caused by; medical misdiagnosis, delays to treatment and physical injuries (such as nerve injuries). Dental negligence claims can also include issues with cosmetic and/ or restorative procedures.
Medical Negligence Claims Against GP
If you need to bring either clinical or medical negligence claims against GP’s or similar practitioners the panel of solicitors we work with can help. In general, General Practitioners help patients with their day-to-day medical needs. If they are not able to treat a patient at a surgery, they will refer the patient to a specialist or hospital. Medical negligence claims against GP’s could be brought against them when a GP missed a claimant’s symptoms or misdiagnosed a condition. It could also include claimants being sent to the wrong type of specialist or prescribing inappropriate treatment. All of these cases can be considered negligence if the claimant has suffered as a result.
Cancer Medical Negligence Claims
Cancer medical negligence claims may be dependant on several different factors. This could be whether the doctor or GP did not refer you to the right, specialist, cancer treatment or not referring you for cancer treatment when you do have clear cancer symptoms. Negligence cases could also include medical staff not carrying out the right procedures or tests to determine the nature or extent of the claimant’s cancer. The specialist solicitors we work with can help with clinical negligence claims involving cancer cases.
Nursing Home Negligence Compensation
Those using care and nursing homes can be some of the most vulnerable in our society. As such, whether in private or NHS funded care, patients and residents in care homes should expect the highest level of care and attention. All residential care facilities have a duty of care to provide their residents with a suitable environment as well as the care that they require to meet their specific medical needs. Any breaches in the type or level of care received could constitute a case of medical or clinical negligence. If you, a family member or a friend have experienced or been the victim of, or have suffered negligence in a care or nursing home and need to use solicitors available to help, speak to Legal Expert today.
Birth Injuries Medical Negligence
Medical negligence claims for birth injuries to the mother or child can be brought against the doctor in charge of the delivery, a nurse, midwife or other employees of the hospital. They can also be brought directly against the hospital itself. Birth injuries medical negligence claims can be brought for injuries sustained during either the pregnancy as a whole or during the birth. They could also include injuries sustained shortly after the birth. The injuries may be immediately apparent, or may not be seen for several years.
Common examples of birth injuries include brain damage, cerebral palsy, and even stillbirths. Talk to the medical compensation specialists who we work with today for further information on birth injury negligence compensation claims.
Medical Negligence Compensation Calculator
Legal Expert works with a panel of solicitors around the country. We have helped claimants to recover the damages and compensation that they are owed after suffering some form of medical or clinical negligence in Plymouth and the wider area. Below is a table with information on the number and value of claims made against NHS trusts in the Plymouth area.
| Healthcare Provider | Claims Recieved 2015/ 16 | Number of Incident 2015/ 16 | Payments Made |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust | 87 | * | 5,191,142 |
| Devon Partnership NHS Trust | 6 | 0 | 252,500 |
| Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust | 17 | 5 | 1,973,058 |
| Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust | 47 | * | 4,280,594 |
| South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 51 | * | 2,135,940 |
No Win No Fee Solicitors, Plymouth
At Legal Expert, we offer our clients what is called a no win, no fee agreement. These are also called conditional fee agreements (or CFA’s for short). They are a type of contract between a claimant and their solicitors. They have helped people across the country to make successful compensation claims without having to worry about facing the costs of upfront legal fees. The main benefit (aside from not having to pay upfront costs) is that in the event of a ‘loss’ the solicitors will not charge the claimant for their services. In short, the claimant will not be let out of pocket. Whilst most cases can be taken on by the no win no fee solicitors we work with, there may be some cases or circumstances where a solicitor won’t be able to work on a case. As such, your no win no fee agreement will be subject to a solicitor accepting your case. At Legal Expert almost all the cases we work with are through a no win no fee agreement.
How To Make Clinical And Medical Negligence Claims
The first step in making a successful claim following clinical or medical negligence is finding the best solicitors to work with. No matter whether you require information, advice, or simply need to find out more about the services we can offer, speak to the specialist legal solicitors we work with at Legal Expert. Our team is on hand seven days a week to take your call between 9 am and 9 pm. Phone us today on 0800 073 8804. You can also email us at info@legalexpert.co.uk.
Helpful Links
NHS Litigation Authority
View the NHS Litigation Authority for further information on claims against the NHS.
Hospitals in Plymouth
Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital
Derriford Road,
Plymouth,
PL6 8BG
Tel: 01752 775861
Web: www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/plymouth
Derriford Hospital
Derriford Road,
Crownhill,
Plymouth,
PL6 8DH
Tel: 01752 202082
Web: www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/
The Mead Dental
61 Mannamead Road,
Plymouth,
Devon,
PL3 4SS
Tel: 01752 224880
Web: www.meaddental.co.uk
