It has been reported in the UK media that Total Fitness suffered a data breach in June 2024. It arose when a public database was discovered that contained over 400,000 images of men, women and children.

The breach is said to have impacted personal data relating to its members and staff. Although the extent of the damage is not yet known, there is the potential for significant numbers of people to have been affected.

If you’re a Total Fitness member or employee and are worried about the situation and want advice on your legal rights, we can help.

Here at Legal Expert, we have a team of specialist data breach solicitors who can check for free if you’re eligible to claim compensation.

You can speak with us now by:

• Calling 0800 073 8804
• Or messaging us now via our live chat or WhatsApp chat

What Is The Total Fitness Data Breach?

In June 2024, it was reported by The Register that Total Fitness had exposed approximately 474,000 images of its members and employees in a database that was accessible to the public. This database did not have any password protection features.

Attached to some of these images were pieces of personal data that could be used to identify individuals. We explain more about the affected data below.

It is understood that Total Fitness has reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Total Fitness has yet to make a public statement on the matter.

It should be noted that this breach is different from one that occurred in 2021.

What Data Was Affected?

In addition to images, the 2024 Total Fitness data breach was said to involve documents that can identify individuals—likely to be names and email addresses, though Total Fitness has not confirmed this.

The exposed information was also said to include phone numbers and reportedly bank account information.

In the cases of employees, it’s suspected that some immigration records may have been exposed too.

The images that were found in the publically available database were said to be membership photos showing faces. Personally identifiable information (PII) was attached to some of these images.

Who Did The Data Breach Affect?

It has been estimated that around 97% of the individuals affected were members, suggesting that the remainder of those impacted were employees.

While Total Fitness has not confirmed how many people were impacted, it has around 100,000 members and the database contained over 474,000 images. These images are of men, women and children.

What To Do If You’re Worried Or Have Been Impacted By The Total Fitness Data Breach?

Total Fitness has an obligation under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 to inform affected individuals. They should do this in the form of a data breach notification letter. This can also come in the form of an email.

This letter should confirm that you’ve been impacted by the recent Total Fitness data breach, what data was impacted, and what steps they are taking to secure it.

If you have not received a letter, you can reach out to Total Fitness and ask them to confirm.

Should I Report The Breach To The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)?

You do not need to report the breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) right away. Total Fitness has notified the ICO already, it has been reported. This means they’re aware of it and are investigating.

If you make a complaint to Total Fitness about the data breach and they do not respond to you within 3 months, you can raise the issue with the ICO and complaint to them directly.

What Other Steps Can I Take?

Being involved in a data breach can be distressing. However, you can take some steps to secure your personal information:

• Keep an eye out for any suspicious calls, emails or text messages. If you don’t recognise who they are, err on the side of caution
• Speak with your bank. They will have procedures in place for those impacted by data breaches. They could help you secure your data.
• Keep an eye on your credit rating. If you notice any sudden changes, then somebody could be trying to take out credit in your name using the personal information they have about you

How Have Total Fitness Responded?

Total Fitness has not made a public statement, though they have given a comment to The Register. The company stated that it had conducted a forensic examination and identified at least 114 images that had personally identifiable information attached to them.

They have also stated that they have seen no evidence of anyone accessing the files, though it is believed the database has been accessible since March 2021.

It has notified the ICO of the breach, though no comment was made as to whether affected individuals have been informed.

How Legal Expert Can Help You Claim Compensation

If you would like to check if you could make a Total Fitness data breach compensation claim, we offer a free case consultation.

Here at Legal Expert, our team of data protection solicitors are well-versed in these types of cases. They understand the claims process and how to accurately value claims.

In order to make a data breach claim, you will need to prove:

• That you were impacted by the data breach. This can be done by providing a copy of the data breach notification letter.
• That as a result of the breach, you suffered damage either to your mental health or to your finances

If we can see that you’re eligible to make a Total Fitness data breach claim, we can offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.

This means that you do not need to pay any fees upfront to make the compensation claim. You will only pay us a fee for our legal costs if your case is successful. The amount we deduct is capped by law and will be explained in clear terms before the case begins.

Speak With Us About The Total Fitness Data Breach And Compensation Claims

If you’d like to speak with us now about a potential Total Fitness data breach compensation claim, get in touch with us today.

Our helpline is open 24 hours a day, and you can speak with us now by:

• Calling 0800 073 8804
• Or messaging us now via our live chat or WhatsApp chat

Recent debates about smacking children raised questions of whether it is acceptable to smack a child as a form of discipline and whether doing so is at the discretion of parents/guardians or the law.

Smacking was banned in Scotland in 2020 and was followed by Wales in 2022. It prompted new calls for the government to follow suit in outlawing the practice in England and Northern Ireland.

In April 2024, The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health released a report setting out why England and Northern Ireland should change the law to make physical punishment of a child illegal.

The report included studies by RCPCH which found smacking can be damaging to children’s behaviour, health and well-being.

It said for example, children who experience physical punishment are nearly three times more likely to develop poor mental health and twice as likely to be on the receiving end of serious physical assault and abuse.

What The Current Law Says

In England, it is currently unlawful for a parent or carer to smack their child, except where this amounts to ‘reasonable punishment,’ according to section 58 of the Children Act 2004.

But whether a ‘smack’ amounts to reasonable punishment usually depends on the circumstances of each case, taking into consideration factors such as the age of the child and the nature of the smack.

The government says parents are trusted to discipline their children.

A Department of Education spokesperson told the BBC in April 2024: “Any form of violence towards a child is completely unacceptable and we have clear laws in place to prevent it.”

The UK government said there were no plans to change the law on smacking in England and said it would monitor the impact of law changes in Scotland and Wales, according to the BBC.

“We are supporting teachers, social workers and all safeguarding professionals to spot the signs of abuse or neglect more quickly,” a Department for Education spokesperson said.

They added: “Our statutory framework for safeguarding children in England makes clear what organisations should do to keep children safe.”

While this may be the case for organisations, what about parents or guardians of the child?

Our Investigation

Legal Expert set out to explore the issue in an effort to gain a better understanding of the current landscape of children who experience physical abuse at the hands of a parent or guardian.

However, with no current ‘smacking’ ban in England and Northern Ireland, it proved challenging to obtain clear information.

Therefore, our investigation looked at how many children across England and Wales are subject to physical abuse and of these instances, how many are committed by the parents or guardians of the child.

The obvious limitation here is that there is currently no way of discerning whether the act of violence or physical abuse towards the child was intended as a punishment or not.

It raises the question as to whether an outright ban in England and Northern Ireland would provide a clearer insight into the current landscape of smacking and/or whether the state should have an input into a parent’s decision to discipline their child.

LegalExpert Solicitor, Jane Davies says: “No child should ever have to suffer physical abuse at the hands of their parents or guardian.

“Even though there is no outright ban on smacking in England and Northern Ireland yet, there are clear laws in place to protect a child from experiencing any form of violence.

“There are options available to victims of child physical abuse including claiming compensation for physical and emotional harm.”

What is child physical abuse?

There is no specific offence of “child physical abuse.” Practitioners have come to define child abuse based on the laws designed to protect children from harm. For example, the 2018 HM Government Report, ‘Working together to safeguard children,’ defines “child physical abuse” as:

“A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.”

The College of Policing also defined “child physical abuse” as the “non-accidental infliction of physical force by one person on another, which may or may not result in personal injury.”

A child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

How We Conducted Our Research Into Child Physical Abuse

According to the Office for National Statistics, the best available indicator of child physical abuse recorded by the police is offences of violence against the person involving “non-accidental infliction of physical force” where the victim was under the age of 18 years.

Some of these offences relate specifically to children, for example, cruelty to children/young persons. However, both adults and children can be victims of other offences. Age of the victim is therefore needed to identify those that relate to child physical abuse.

The Home Office Data Hub is a live database that allows police forces to provide the Home Office with record-level information on all crimes recorded. This includes the age of victims at the time of the offence. However, this information is not always provided, so not all child physical abuse offences recorded by the police can be identified.

Legal Expert sent Freedom of Information requests to every police force in England asking for the number of offences of child physical abuse in the last three years (Between April 6 2021 – April 5 2023)

We also asked; how many of these instances were perpetrated by the child’s parent or guardian.

Results

Bedfordshire

Child physical abuse at the hands of parents and guardians in Bedfordshire has soared by a staggering 38% in just one year.

An average of eight violent offences towards children have been recorded by Bedfordshire Police every day, with figures rising year on year.

Of these, around 19% are perpetrated by the child’s parent or foster parent. 

A total 7,497 physical abuse crimes towards under 18-year-olds were recorded by police since 2021.

2,652 of these instances resulted in injury to the child and there have been a total of 4 homicide offences against a child in the county in the last three years.

There were 716 instances of child physical abuse committed by the Mother as well as 669 by the Father, according to police.

A further 14 physical abuse crimes were perpetrated by a foster parent of the child.

Cheshire

26% of all child physical abuse crimes in Cheshire are committed by the parent or guardian of the child.

An average of 11 child physical abuse crimes have been recorded by Cheshire Police every day in the last three years.

The offences include; assault with injury, assault with intent to cause serious harm and racial assault without injury.

Across the county, a total of 11,915 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

According to Cheshire Police, there were 4,040 child physical abuse recorded between April 6, 2021 – April 5, 2022. Of these, 1,002 incidents were recorded as having the child’s parent or guardian as the suspect or perpetrator. 

The following year, figures climbed to a total 4,224 child physical abuse crimes, where 1,111 of them were logged as being perpetrated by the parent/guardian. 

So far, between 2023/24, there have been a total of 3,651 such crimes, where 946 recorded the parent/guardian as the perpetrator of the abuse.

Teeside

20% of all physical abuse crimes on under 17-year-olds in Teeside are committed by the parent or guardian.

An average of 8 child physical abuse crimes have been recorded by Cleveland Police every day in the last two years.

The offences include; wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault and battery.

Across Teeside, a total of 6,041 physical abuse crimes towards children (under the age of 17) were recorded by police between 2021-2023.

A total of 2,554 instances resulted in injury to the child. The majority (93%) of which, were ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm.’ 

This means any hurt that interferes with health or comfort, such as cuts, bruises or psychiatric injury.

In Teeside, there were 1,191 recorded instances of child physical abuse committed by the parent or guardian between 2021-2023.

What’s more, the number could be higher, as there 71 cases where the victim refused to identify the perpetrator.

There were a further 355 alleged abusers that were recorded as ‘unknown’ according to Cleveland Police figures.

Dorset

A staggering 37% of all child physical abuse crimes in Dorset are committed by the parent or guardian of the child.

Our investigation revealed that an average of 8 child physical abuse crimes have been recorded by Dorset Police every day in the last three years.

The new figures obtained via Freedom of Information Requests show the number of violent offences against a child (17 years old or younger) including instances of child abuse or neglect.

In Dorset, a total of 8,399 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

An eye-watering 43% of physical abuse crimes towards a child were committed by the parent or guardian between 2021/22, according to Dorset Police. 

The following year, figures climbed to a total of 2,999 violent offences towards children, with 1,083 being at the hands of the child’s parent or guardian.

Between 2023/24, there were a total of 2,538 child physical abuse crimes, 39% of which were committed by a guardian or parent.

Durham

There has been a rise in child physical abuse committed by the parent or guardian of the child in Durham, with 24% of violent offences toward a child perpetrated by the Mother or Father.

An average of 7 child physical abuse crimes were recorded by Durham Constabulary every day in the last three years.

Of which, a total of 1,789 acts of violence towards a child (under 18) where at the hands of the parent.

The figures show instances including; assault with injury, assaults with intent to cause serious harm and assault without injury.

Across Durham, a total of 7,879 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

Of the 2,448 physical abuse crimes towards children in Durham between 2021/22, around 22% were committed by the parent.

Figures climbed in the county the following year 2022/23, with a total of 2,747 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 609 were at the hands of the parent. 

In 2023/24, 24% of child physical abuse crimes were revealed as being committed by the child’s parent, according to Durham Constabulary, although the number of overall offences decreased slightly totalling, 2,684.

However, these figures could actually be higher, as there were a total of 55 instances in the last three years where the relationship of the perpetrator to the child was recorded as familial but ‘unknown.’ 

Essex

Around 4 children every day are physically abused by their parent or guardian in Essex. 

A total of 29,497 instances of child physical abuse were recorded by Essex Police in the last three years.

Of these, 3,891 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

The figures show instances of violence against a child but cases where the offence was either stalking or harassment were not included.

Across Essex, a total of 29,497 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021 – that’s an average of 27 every single day.

A total of 10,033 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Essex between 2021/22. Of those, 1,242 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or guardian according to police figures. 

Figures climbed the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 10,531 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 1,469 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Essex Police recorded a total of 8,933 such offences, 1,180 of which were logged as having the parent or guardian as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child. 

Gwent

21% of child physical abuse crimes in South East Wales are committed by the parent or carer of the child.

A total of 8,717 instances of child physical abuse were recorded by Gwent Police in the last three years.

Of these, 1,850 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or carer.

The figures include offences of; assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and battery and grievous bodily harm.

In South East Wales, a total of 8,717 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by Gwent police since 2021 – that’s an average of 8 every single day.

A total of 2,548 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in South East Wales between 2021/22. Of those, 528 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

Figures climbed the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 3,177 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 707 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Gwent Police recorded a total of 2,992 such offences, 615 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child. 

Since 2021, there were also 257 instances of child physical abuse where the perpetrator was recorded as being a member of the child’s family.

Hull and East Yorkshire

25% of child physical abuse crimes in Hull and East Yorkshire are committed by the parent or carer of the child,.

A total of 730 instances of child physical abuse were recorded by Humberside Police in just 12 months.

Of these, 183 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

In Hull and East Yorkshire, the highest number of physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded in June 2022 and March 2023 – where 86 acts of violence towards children occurred in each month.

Kent

A staggering 44% of child physical abuse crimes in Kent are committed by the parent or carer of the child.

A total of 10,591 instances of child physical abuse were recorded by Kent Police between 2021-2023.

Of these, 4,610 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

The figures include offences of; assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm.

Across Kent, a total of 5,218 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police between 2021/22. Of those, an eye-watering 2,198 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or guardian. 

Between 2022/23, Kent Police recorded a further 5,373 instances of child physical abuse, of which a staggering 2,412 were at the hands of the parent or guardian of the child.

Lancashire

21% of child physical abuse crimes in Lancashire are committed by the parent or guardian of the child.

A total of 12,458 instances of child physical abuse were recorded by Lancashire Police in the last three years.

Of these, 2,662 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

The figures include offences of; assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm.

Across Lancashire a total of 12,458 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021 – that’s an average of 11 every single day.

A total of 4,024 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Lancashire between 2021/22. Of those, 806 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

Figures climbed the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 4,375 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 904 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Lancashire Police recorded a total of 4,059 such offences, 952 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child – that’s 23%.

Leicestershire

Leicestershire Police record an average of 15 child physical abuse crimes every day across the county in the last three years.

There have been 1,540 instances where the parent or guardian has committed acts of physical violence towards a child since 2021.

The figures include offences of; violence with injury, violence without injury and homicide.

Across Leicestershire, a total of 16,007 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021 – that’s an average of 15 every single day.

A total of 5,068 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Leicestershire between 2021/22. Of those 463 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or guardian according to police figures.

Figures climbed the following year with 5,763 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 548 were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

In 2023/24, Leicestershire Police recorded a total of 5,176 such offences, 529 of which were logged as having the parent or guardian as the suspect of the violence towards a child.

In the last three years, police have recorded 7 cases of homicide where the victim was a child. In one instance, the parent or guardian is recorded as the suspect.

Lincolnshire

22% of child physical abuse crimes in Lincolnshire are committed by the parent or guardian of the child with figures rising year on year.

An average of 7 instances of child physical abuse have been recorded by Lincolnshire every day in the last three years.

Of these, 1,736 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

Across Lincolnshire, a total of 7,767 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

A total of 2,284 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Lincolnshire between 2021/22. Of those, 475 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

Figures skyrocketed by 21% the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 2,711 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 619 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Lincolnshire Police recorded a total of 2,772 such offences, 642 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child – that’s 23%.

Merseysde

More than a fifth of child physical abuse crimes in Merseyside are committed by the parent or guardian of the child.

13,741 instances of child physical abuse were recorded by Merseyside Police in the last three years – that’s an average of 13 every single day. 

Of those, 2,898 instances of violence towards a child – under 18 – were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

The figures include offences of; common assault and battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. 

A total of 4,113 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Merseyside between 2021/22. Of those 899 were perpetrated by the child’s parent (including step/adopted or foster) according to police.

Figures climbed the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 5,087 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 1,084 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Merseyside Police recorded a total of 4,541 such offences, 915 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child.

North Wales

A staggering 35% of child physical abuse crimes in North Wales were committed by the parent or guardian of the child between 2023/24.

An average of 10 instances of child physical abuse have been recorded by North Wales every day in the last three years.

Of these, 3,592 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

The figures  include offences of; assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm.

Across North Wales a total of 10,777 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

A total of 3,612 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in North Wales between 2021/22. Of those, 1,149 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

Figures climbed the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 3,886 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 1,298 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, North Wales Police recorded a total of 3,279 such offences, 1,145 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child – that’s an eye-watering 35%.

North Yorkshire

24% of child physical abuse crimes in North Yorkshire were committed by the parent or guardian of the child in 2023/24.

An average of 7 instances of child physical abuse have been recorded by North Yorkshire Police every day in the last three years.

Of these, 1,662 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

The figures include offences of; assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm.

Across North Yorkshire a total of 7,646 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

A total of 2,451 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in North Yorkshire between 2021/22. Of those, 507 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

Figures climbed the following year, 2022/23, with a total of 2,671 physical abuse offences recorded towards a child. Of those, 555 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, North Yorkshire Police recorded a total of 2,524 such offences, 600 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child – that’s 24%.

Northamptonshire

24% of child physical abuse crimes in Northamptonshire are committed by the parent or guardian of the child.

An average of 9 instances of child physical abuse have been recorded by Northamptonshire Police every day in the last three years.

Of these, 2,222 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian.

Across Northamptonshire, a total of 9,380 physical abuse crimes towards children were recorded by police since 2021.

A total of 3,224 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Northamptonshire between 2021/22. Of those, 842 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures – that’s 26%.

The following year, 2022/23, a total of 3,151 physical abuse offences were recorded towards a child. Of those, 715 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Northamptonshire Police recorded a total of 3,005 such offences, 665 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child.

Nottinghamshire

An average of 19 child physical crimes are recorded by Nottinghamshire Police every day.

A staggering 21,255 child abuse crimes have been reported in Nottinghamshire in the last three years.

Of these, 2,538 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

Across Nottinghamshire had some of the highest numbers of child physical abuse crimes in the UK between 2021-2024.

A total of 7,539 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Nottinghamshire between 2021/22. Of those, 949 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

The following year, 2022/23, a total of 7,239 physical abuse offences were recorded towards a child. Of those, 801 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Nottinghamshire Police recorded a total of 6,377 such offences, 788 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child.

Surrey

A staggering 39% of child physical abuse crimes in Surrey are at the hands of the parent or guardian of the child – the highest in UK.

A total of 4,486 child abuse crimes have been recorded by Surrey Police in the last three years.

Of those, 1,740 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were committed by the parent or guardian – it is the highest percentage of parental perpetrators reported by any other UK police force.

Across Surrey, an average of four child physical abuse crimes have been recorded by police every day between 2021/2024 – with figures skyrocketing by 27% in the last three years.

A total of 1,395 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in Surrey between 2021/22. Of those, 605 were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

The following year, 2022/23, a total of 1,317 physical abuse offences were recorded towards a child. Of those, 566 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, Surrey Police recorded a total of 1,774 such offences, 569 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child.

West Mercia

25% of all child physical abuse crimes in West Merica are at the hands of the parents or guardian of the child.

An average of 11 child physical abuse crimes have been recorded by West Mercia Police everyday in the last three years.

Of these, 3,108 instances of violence towards a child (under 18) were committed by the parent or guardian. 

Across West Mercia – which covers areas Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, recorded some of the highest child physical abuse crime figures in the UK since 2021.

A total of 4,291 physical abuse crimes were committed towards children in West Mercia between 2021/22. Of those, 1,079  were perpetrated by the child’s parent or carer according to police figures. 

The following year, 2022/23, a total of 4,369 physical abuse offences were recorded towards a child. Of those, 1,106 were at the hands of the parent or guardian. 

In 2023/24, West Mercia Police recorded a total of 3,797 such offences, 923 of which were logged as having the parent or carer as the perpetrator of the violence towards a child.

 

NHS staff perform incredibly tough jobs day in day out. What makes this job harder is when patients or those they’re trying to help assault or abuse them.

We receive lots of enquiries from NHS staff who have been assaulted at work so it prompted us to investigate and conduct our own research to uncover the scale of the problem

Below, you can find the results of our research.

The Background To Our Research

With the most recent NHS staff survey showing that around 50% of ambulance trust workers experience physical abuse, we set out to investigate the scale of NHS staff experiencing physical or verbal assaults while at work.

Legal Expert revealed that the NHS has paid out a staggering £20.7 million in NHS staff assault claims in the last five years.

The eye-watering amount was paid out for a total of 1,017 NHS staff assault claims since 2019.

Legal Expert solicitor, Patrick Mallon says: “These figures are extremely concerning. Nobody should have to feel threatened at work – especially hard-working, vital NHS staff. 

“Something must be done to tackle abuse towards NHS staff who, for the majority, are just trying to do their jobs.”

Physical assaults on NHS staff are defined as: “The intentional application of force to the person of another without lawful justification, resulting in physical injury or personal discomfort.”

How We Conducted Our Research Into NHS Staff Assaults

We submitted a Freedom of Information request to NHS Resolution – which is the legal body of the NHS.

We asked for the number of claims and incidents of staff assaults within each NHS trust in England. Secondly, we requesting information regarding the number of legal claims that had been closed or settled as well as the amount of damages paid out per trust.

The Statistics And Findings

Findings revealed that the biggest damages payouts awarded for such claims was recorded by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which amounted to £1,180,394 for just 10 claims.

The trust, which has locations in Brighton, Hove, East and West Sussex, recorded 20 claims and incidents of NHS staff assaults in total since 2019.

In England, the highest number of NHS staff assault claims was recorded at Mersey Care NHS Trust in the North West.

Out of 236 NHS Trust, it had the highest number of staff assault claims. A total of 62 were lodged within Mersey Care since 2019 of which there were damages payments awarded.

The compensation paid out by the trust amounted to £1,159,679 – the second highest in England.

The news comes amid responses to a separate FOI request that revealed there were at least 41,226 physical assaults on NHS staff working in hospitals in 2023, an increase on the previous year and a 21% jump since 2019. 

Around 14% of NHS staff have self-reported that they have experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients, service users, relatives or other members of the public in the last 12 months, according to the latest NHS staff survey. 

But the ambulance sector is the worst affected, with almost 50% of paramedics experiencing physical abuse. 

Legal Expert’s investigation has gathered all the NHS trusts where staff have lodged assault claims. Below are the top 10 trusts with the highest number of staff assault claims:

The trusts with the highest number of NHS staff assault claims are as follows:

• Mersey Care NHS FT (62)
• Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT (34)
• Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT (33)
• Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (26)
• Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (23)
• Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (20)
• Central and North West London NHS FT (20)
• East London NHS FT (20)
• South London & Maudsley NHS FT (20)
• West London NHS FT (17)

Legal Expert solicitor, Mr Mallon added: “Whilst claiming against medical bodies like the NHS can seem daunting, such claims help highlight the issues and hopefully start the conversation that leads to change to ensure no staff members ever fall victim to either physical or verbal abuse in the future.”. 

NHS Resolution manages a number of risk-pooling schemes (similar to insurance) for the NHS, one of which is the Liability to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS).

This covers both employers’ liability (for example, in relation to duties of care owed to employees) and public liability (i.e. in relation to duties of care owed other patients, visitors, and other members of the public). 

The claims referred to are LTPS claims. 

Results by NHS Trust

Between 2019-2021, there were 98 NHS Trusts with less than 5 staff assault claims. The total compensation paid amounted to £4,716,991.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £1,180,394

Number of claims and incidents: 20

Number of claims only: 10

Average compensation payout per claim: £118,039.40

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £1,158,679

Number of claims and incidents: 122

Number of claims only: 62

Average compensation payout per claim: £18,688.37

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £778,304

Number of claims and incidents: 19

Number of claims only: 12

Average compensation payout per claim: £64,858.66

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £695,753

Number of claims and incidents: 81

Number of claims only: 26

Average compensation payout per claim: £26,759.73

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £582,424

Number of claims and incidents: 39

Number of claims only: 11

Average compensation payout per claim: £52,947.63

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £556,986

Number of claims and incidents: 28

Number of claims only: 11

Average compensation payout per claim: £50,653.09

West London NHS Trust

Total damages paid: £539,923

Number of claims and incidents: 42

Number of claims only: 17

Average compensation payout per claim: £31,760.17

South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £522,659

Number of claims and incidents: 33

Number of claims only: 20

Average compensation payout per claim: £26,132.95

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £500,853

Number of claims and incidents: 65

Number of claims only: 33

Average compensation payout per claim: £15,177.36

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £486,117

Number of claims and incidents: 36

Number of claims only: 15

Average compensation payout per claim: £32,407.80

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £456,66

Number of claims and incidents: 41

Number of claims only: 16

Average compensation payout per claim: £28,541.43

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £395,583

Number of claims and incidents: 57

Number of claims only: 34

Average compensation payout per claim: £11,634.79

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £361,902

Number of claims and incidents: 15

Number of claims only: 12

Average compensation payout per claim: £30,158.50

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

Total damages paid: £358,290

Number of claims and incidents: 32

Number of claims only: 20

Average compensation payout per claim: £17,914.50

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £356,387

Number of claims and incidents:

Number of claims only: 5

Average compensation payout per claim: £71,277.40

Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £323,404

Number of claims and incidents: 37

Number of claims only: 16

Average compensation payout per claim: £20,212.75

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £318,147

Number of claims and incidents: 6

Number of claims only: 5

Average compensation payout per claim: £63,629.40

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £305,604

Number of claims and incidents: 21

Number of claims only: 11

Average compensation payout per claim: £27,782.18

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Total damages paid: £300,872

Number of claims and incidents: 18

Number of claims only: 10

Average compensation payout per claim: £30,087.20

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £296,784

Number of claims and incidents: 21

Number of claims only: 9

Average compensation payout per claim: £32,976

North East London NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £296,039

Number of claims and incidents: 31

Number of claims only: 13

Average compensation payout per claim: £22,772.23

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £241,890

Number of claims and incidents:

Number of claims only: 6

Average compensation payout per claim: £40,315

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £237,340

Number of claims and incidents: 22

Number of claims only: 9

Average compensation payout per claim: £26,371.11

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust

Total damages paid: £229,729

Number of claims and incidents: 23

Number of claims only: 12

Average compensation payout per claim: £19,144.08

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £224,241

Number of claims and incidents: 17

Number of claims only: 6

Average compensation payout per claim: £37,373.50

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £215,051

Number of claims and incidents: 28

Number of claims only: 10

Average compensation payout per claim: £21,505

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Total damages paid: £210,700

Number of claims and incidents: 35

Number of claims only: 20

Average compensation payout per claim: £10,535

How Legal Expert Can Help With Claims For Assaults At Work

If you’ve suffered an injury after being assaulted at work, we can help. Here at Legal Expert, we have a team of specialist accident at work claim solicitors who can get you the compensation and justice you deserve.

We offer a free eligibility check and advice via our 24-hour helpline and live chat service. So if you have a question, please get in touch with us today.

Last Updated On 3rd December 2024. In the UK, the majority of us turn to the National Health Service (NHS) whenever we require medical treatment for an illness or injury. However, there may be instances where mistakes and errors occasionally happen. This guide looks at when you could be eligible to sue the NHS and answers the question “Can I sue the NHS without a solicitor?” should you experience avoidable harm after receiving substandard care. 

We list the benefits of having a solicitor represent you if you are looking to claim compensation and how working with them under No Win No Fee terms can mean avoiding upfront fees for their services.

We also define medical negligence and when a medical negligence claim is eligible. Furthermore, we provide examples of some different types of medical negligence that a solicitor could help you claim for. 

To find out more about claiming compensation for medical negligence, you can reach out to our team of advisors for free. They may connect you with one of our No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitors if you have an eligible claim. You can speak with an advisor at any time via one of the following:

• Call 0800 073 8804.
• Enquire about making a claim online.
• Message an advisor directly in our live chat box.

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Sue The NHS Without A Solicitor?
2. How Can A Solicitor Help Me Sue The NHS?
3. Could I Sue The NHS With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
4. How Could I Claim For Medical Negligence?
5. Why Choose Legal Expert To Claim Compensation?
6. Find Out More About Clinical Negligence Claims

Can I Sue The NHS Without A Solicitor?

If you have an eligible medical negligence claim, you are not required to instruct a solicitor to help you. Instead, you could sue the NHS without a solicitor. 

However, if you want to claim compensation, we strongly recommend that you instruct a specialist medical negligence solicitor to help you. This is because solicitors have legal expertise of the claims process and can ensure your case runs smoothly.

The NHS negligence claims process can also be complex so having a solicitor help and work with you can be beneficial. 

How Can A Solicitor Help Me Sue The NHS?

Having answered the question, “Can I sue the NHS without a solicitor?” it might benefit you to know what exactly a solicitor can provide during your claim. As we said above, there is no legal requirement to instruct a claim representative, although it will definitely be to your advantage.

Some of the services a solicitor could provide can include:

• Sending correspondence to the defendant, their representatives and any expert witnesses who may be called upon.
• Helping to gather evidence of the avoidable harm caused to you.
• Collecting witness statements from relevant persons.
• Valuing both the physical and mental harm caused to you and your financial losses.
• Helping to explain any jargon or complex procedures you may encounter.
• Negotiating with the defendant’s representatives to get you a fair settlement.

Legal Expert’s dedicated medical negligence solicitors can provide all this and more if you choose to begin your claim with us. So, if you were wondering how to sue the NHS without a solicitor, why not talk to our advisors first, and find out how our solicitors could help you when making a claim. Our team are available 24 hours a day using the contact information given below.

Could I Sue The NHS With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?

Our specialist medical negligence solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. So, if our advisors connect you, one of our solicitors could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). 

A CFA would benefit you as you would receive your solicitor’s services without having to pay upfront or ongoing fees for their work. You will also not be charged for their work if your medical negligence claim is unsuccessful. 

If your claim is successful, your solicitor can charge a success fee. Success fees are a percentage of your compensation. However, the law caps the maximum percentage that solicitors can charge.

To discuss the question ‘Can I sue the NHS without a solicitor?’ and to learn how a solicitor could benefit you if you do instruct legal representation, please get in touch on the number above.

How Could I Claim For Medical Negligence?

All medical professionals, including those within the NHS, owe a duty of care to every patient they treat. This duty of care requires delivering the correct standard of care. 

Medical negligence occurs when a medical professional deviates from their professional standards of care, and a patient suffers avoidable harm (harm that could have been prevented) as a result.

If a medical professional delivers a standard of care that does not meet what is minimally required from them, but a patient suffers no avoidable harm from this, then this is not medical negligence. 

As per above, you must show that you have met these criteria in order to have valid grounds to make a medical negligence claim against the NHS:

• A medical professional owed you a duty of care. 
• The medical professional breached their duty. 
• Because of this, you have suffered avoidable harm. 

Speak with our advisors to see whether you might be able to claim compensation. 

What Different Types Of Medical Negligence Claims Could A Solicitor Handle?

Here are a few examples of medical negligence claims that an expert solicitor could handle:

• Prescription errors by a pharmacy. For instance, if a pharmacist accidentally mislabels your prescription, you could receive the wrong medication that you are allergic to. An allergic reaction to medication can lead to anaphylaxis.
• Surgical errors. For instance, if pre-surgical procedures were not carried out correctly, wrong-site surgery could occur involving the wrong part of the body being operated on. This is known as a never event. 
• Missed diagnosis and delayed treatment. For instance, your GP fails to listen to you correctly about the symptoms you’re exhibiting. As a result, they misdiagnose you without sending you for further tests. Your condition becomes worse, and you require more extensive treatment later on.

Medical negligence can occur in many ways. So, to discuss your specific circumstances with us, get in touch today. 

Why Choose Legal Expert To Claim Compensation?

If you get in touch with our team, they can provide a free case assessment during an initial consultation. If they find your case is valid and establishes medical negligence, they could put you in touch with one of our expert No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitors.

There is no obligation to proceed with our services. Instead, an advisor can simply answer any questions you have regarding making a compensation claim, including ‘Can I sue the NHS without a solicitor?’ and the steps you may need to take if you choose not to seek legal representation.

For more information about anything mentioned in our guide, or to discuss your specific case, please get in touch with an advisor using the contact details below:

• Call 0800 073 8804.
• Enquire about making a claim online.
• Message an advisor directly in our live chat box.

Find Out More About Clinical Negligence Claims

Here are a handful of our similar guides:

• See what the time limits are for suing the NHS and check whether you are within the NHS compensation claims time limit.
• Find out how hard it is to prove medical negligence and what evidence is best to collect.
• See how much compensation you could possibly get for a misdiagnosis claim after suffering avoidable harm through negligent care.

These external pages might also help you:

• NHS – Learn how to complain about an NHS service you have received care under.
• Royal College of Nursing (RCN) – What duty of care is required from nurses.
• General Medical Council (GMC) – What good medical practice is required from doctors.

We hope to have answered your questions, such as “Can I sue the NHS without a solicitor?”. If you need any other guidance, please get in touch using the contact details provided above.

A lot of the enquiries we receive relate to medical data breaches, particularly within the NHS. These prompted our investigation into NHS data breach compensation claims.

Below, you can find out how much compensation has been paid out for data breaches by each NHS Trust, as well as the total number of claims made and compensation paid out.

We also uncovered the most prevalent types of data breaches within the UK health sector over the last three years.

How We Conducted Our Research

Legal Expert sent a Freedom of Information Request to NHS Resolution to find out the number of data breach claims lodged against each NHS Trust in the UK.

We also asked for the amount of damages paid out by each trust for such claims in the last three years, the results of which you can see below

Similarly, a request was sent to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to find out the number of data breach incidents reported to them by the healthcare sector as well as the types of data breaches that are most prevalent.

The Most Common Data Breach Types Within The UK Health Sector

The most common data breaches in the health sector in the last two years have been disclosed to Legal Expert by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Between 2022/23, data breaches have skyrocketed by 21% in the UK health sector.

Data breaches reported to the ICO by businesses in the health sector includes; 

• Advisory boards and panels
• Ambulance service
• Commissioning
• Dentists
• General practitioner
• Health research
• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
• Opticians
• Pharmacist
• Primary care
• Private healthcare providers
• Public health
• Representative and arm’s length bodies
• Secondary care

In 2022, a total of 1,607 data breaches were reported to ICO from the health sector, this soared to 1,949 incidents the following year. 

So far this year, between January 1 – March 20, 2024, a total of 505 data breaches have been reported by the health sector to ICO. That’s an average of 168 incidents a month. If the trajectory continues, figures could reach record highs this year of around 2,020.

Legal Expert has ranked the top 10 most common data breach incident types reported to the ICO from the Health Sector between 2022-24.

Definitions as provided by the ICO

Unauthorised access – an unauthorised individual has gained access to personal data. This can include unauthorised disclosures. This incident type is used both in instances where an individual has unlawfully accessed or disclosed information and where a third party has forcibly accessed a system.

Data emailed to incorrect recipient – where an email containing personal data is sent to the wrong email address. This could be data about one person or multiple individuals.

Data posted or faxed to incorrect recipient – where a fax or piece of post containing personal data is sent to the wrong fax number or postal address. This could be data about one person or multiple individuals.

Loss/theft of paperwork or data left in insecure location – papers containing personal data are not secured, for example locking the paperwork in a cabinet or similar; or papers are misplaced or stolen.

Verbal disclosure of personal data – when personal data is shared or disclosed verbally to an inappropriate party.

Ransomware – a type of malware that unlawfully encrypts a user’s files and demands a ransom to unencrypt files, usually in the form of cryptocurrency.

Failure to redact – when personal data was disclosed without the appropriate redaction, or if the redactions made were inadequate.

Phishing – an attempt to obtain information by posing as a trustworthy entity, deceiving recipients into sharing sensitive information (such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details) or by encouraging them to visit a fake website.

Hardware/software misconfiguration – any hardware or software misconfiguration leading to a disclosure of information. For example, permissions on a folder set incorrectly, or failing to use a robot.txt file.

Data of wrong data subject shown in client portal – where personal information about one or more individuals is shown within the Online service area belonging to another person.

The Results Of Our Research Into NHS Data Breach Claims

We send out Freedom of Information Request for every NHS Trust asking for the number of data breach claims and the amount of compensation paid in the last three years.

All NHS Trusts provided the requested information. A total of 897 Data Breach claims were lodged against NHS Trusts between the financial years 2020/21and 2022/23.

In this time period, 418 claims were closed with a compensation payment. The total amount of damages paid by the NHS for these claims was £1,537,295.

Some 212 data breach claims were closed during this period with NIL damages paid out.

Our investigation revealed a total of 20 NHS Trusts paid out thousands in data breach compensation claims in the last three years, find your local trust below.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust came far and above any other in the UK, with a hefty compensation pay-out total.

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, the trust had 61 claims lodged against it. 

36 claims were made between 2020/21 as well as 19 more the following year. A further 6 data breach claims have been lodged against the trust this year so far (up to March 2024)/

In the last three years, WWL Trust settled 47 claims, paying out a total of £79, 650 – the highest amount of any NHS Trust.

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust paid out the second highest compensation of all UK trusts.

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, seven data breach claims and incidents were reported to ICO regarding the trust. 

In the last three years, the trust settled 5 claims, paying out a total of £46,875.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust paid out the third highest compensation of all UK trusts.

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, the trust had 5 claims lodged against it, all of which were made between 2022/23.

In the last three years, the trust settled 5 claims, paying out a total of £37,038.

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust paid out the fourth highest compensation of all UK trusts.

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, the trust had 5 claims lodged against it, all of which were made between 2022/23.

In the last three years, the trust settled all 5 claims, paying out a total of £30,500.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust paid out the fifth highest compensation of all UK Trusts. 

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, the trust had 16 claims lodged against it, all of which were made between 2020/21.

In the last three years, the trust has settled 9 claims, paying out a total of £29,750.

Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust paid out the sixth highest compensation of all UK Trusts. 

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, the trust had 6 claims lodged against it, all of which were made between 2020/21.

In the last three years, the trust has settled 7 claims, paying out a total of £28,500.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust was also high on the list, paying the seventh highest amount out of all UK trusts.

The trust settled 8 data breach claims in the last three years with a sum of £23,590. 

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust paid out some of the highest compensation amounts of all UK Trusts. 

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, the trust did not have any new claims lodged against it, according to NHS Resolution. 

But, in the last three years, it has settled 5 claims, paying out a total of £22,400.

West London NHS Trust

West London NHS Trust paid out some of the highest compensation amounts of all UK Trusts. 

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, nine data breach claims and incidents were reported to ICO regarding the trust. 

In the last three years, it has settled 5 claims, paying out a total of £22,350.

Mersey Care NHS Trust

Mersey Care NHS Trust paid out some of the highest compensation amounts of all UK Trusts. 

Between the financial years, 2020/21 and 2022/23, nine data breach claims and incidents were reported to ICO regarding the trust. 

In the last three years, it has settled 7 claims, paying out a total of £21,950.

What’s more Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had the second highest number of data breach claims lodged against it during this time. 

40 claims were brought against the trust, all of which were between 2022/23.

Learn More About Making A Medical Data Breach Compensation Claim

If you’ve been impacted by a medical data breach by the NHS, you could be entitled to compensation. You can head here to learn about the eligibility criteria for claiming medical data breach compensation, or you can get in touch with us for free via our live chat or 24-hour helpline.

Here at Legal Expert, we have a team of specialist data breach solicitors who are well-versed in medical and NHS data breaches. They can help you today too.

It has been widely reported by various religious groups that there has been a sharp rise in the number of hate crimes against members of their faith. It prompted us to conduct our own research into the numbers reported to local police forces across the country.

What Is A Religious Hate Crime?

A religious hate crime is defined as a hostile act that’s motivated by a person’s religious beliefs. It’s important to note that the crime has to be perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by prejudice or hostility.

How We Conducted Our Research Into Religious Hate Crimes

To conduct our research and obtain the statistics that you can find below, we issued Freedom of Information requests to all police forces in the country.

Of the 44 police forces contacted, 35 (80%) responded within the deadline. We also obtained information from the British Transport Police.

You can find the results of our investigation below.

If you’d like to see a copy of the responses from police forces, please get in touch. We’re happy to share them.

The Results Of Our Research

Below, you can find the results of our research, broken down by police force

Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police reported a rise of 553% in anti-Semitic hate crimes since the Hamas attack on Israel on October, 7, 2023.

In the months after the attack, the UK’s largest police force recorded a total of 1,371 anti-Jewish hate crimes, compared with 210 during the same period the previous year. 

Data obtained via Freedom of Information Request revealed an insight into the landscape of both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crime levels in the UK

Results suggest a significant rise in anti-Jewish hate crime in larger police force areas since the Hamas attack.

Some forces also recorded a rise in Islamophobic offences, though the picture is more mixed.

A wave of protests against the Gaza war has swept US College Campuses in recent weeks, leading to a huge number of arrests.

Now, UK students are beginning a new round of protests against the Gaza War.

The continued political tensions seem to be reflected in the staggering new figures reported by the Met Police. 

The force revealed that between October 2023 and January 2024, a total 1,371 anti-Semitic hate crimes were logged by the Met Police. 

Figures from the same period the previous year showed a total of 210 such hate crimes recorded by the Met – that is an increase of 553% in the months after the Hamas attack.

Anti-Jewish Hate Crime – Met Police 

Oct 23	Nov 23	Dec 23	Jan 24	Total
521	413	230	207	1,371
Oct 22	Nov 22	Dec 22	Jan 23	Total
39	41	36	58	210

The picture was similar for anti-Muslim hate crime during the same time. 

Between October 2023- January 2024, a total of 692 Islamophobic hate crime offences were logged by the Met. 

That’s an increase of 101% compared with the 344 recorded the year before. 

Anti-Muslim Hate Crime – Met Police 

Oct 23	Nov 23	Dec 23	Jan 24	Total
208	247	123	114	692
Oct 22	Nov 22	Dec 22	Jan 23	Total
75	66	64	55	344

These figures are further substantiated by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which confirmed in April that prosecutors charged 10% more hate crime cases in the final three months of 2023.

Figures from the CPS’s Quarter 3 (October-December 2023) data show the increase in charges for hate crime flagged cases compared to the three months before.

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Kris Venkatasami, the CPS’s Protest Lead said: “The rise in hate crime chargers since the beginning of 2023, but particularly in the last part of the year, is concerning for all communities who are deeply affected by each incident. 

“Hate has no part to play in our society. Our consistently high level of charging demonstrates our determination and independence to seek justice in all cases.”

Greater Manchester Police

In the months after the October 2023 attack, GMP recorded a total of 228 anti-Jewish hate crimes, compared with just 69 during the same period the previous year.

The force revealed that between October 2023 and February 2024,  228 anti-Semitic hate crimes were logged.

Figures from the same period the previous year showed a total of 69 such hate crimes recorded by GMP – that is an increase of 231% in the months after the Hamas attack.

Anti-Jewish Hate Crime – Greater Manchester Police

Oct 23	Nov 23	Dec 23	Jan 24	Feb 24	Total
82	66	28	26	26	228
Oct 22	Nov 22	Dec 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Total
13	11	15	13	17	69

The figures for Islamophobic hate crime during this time showed no significant increase or decrease compared with the previous year.

However, overall numbers show that there were almost triple the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes than anti-Semitic crimes between Oct 22- Feb 23.

Anti-Muslim Hate Crime – Greater Manchester Police 

Oct 23	Nov 23	Dec 23	Jan 24	Feb 24	Total
38	48	38	29	25	178
Oct 22	Nov 22	Dec 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Total
45	37	42	22	32	178

West Midlands Police

In the months after the October 2023 attack, WMP recorded a total of 55 anti-Jewish hate crimes, compared with just 13 during the same period the previous year.

The force revealed that between October 2023 and February 2024, a total 55 anti-Semitic hate crimes were logged.

Figures from the same period the previous year showed a total of 15 such hate crimes recorded by WMP – that is an increase of 323% in the months after the Hamas attack.

Anti-Jewish Hate Crime – West Midlands Police

Oct 23	Nov 23	Dec 23	Jan 24	Feb 24	Total
19	9	10	9	8	55
Oct 22	Nov 22	Dec 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Total
1	2	6	2	2	13

The figures for Islamophobic hate crime during this time show a decrease of 15% compared with the previous year.

However, overall crime incidents are substantially larger than anti-Jewish hate crime. 

The number of anti-Muslim hate crimes during this period are almost triple that of anti-Semitic offences in the West Midlands.

Anti-Muslim Hate Crime – West Midlands Police 

Oct 23	Nov 23	Dec 23	Jan 24	Feb 24	Total
21	36	27	30	26	140
Oct 22	Nov 22	Dec 22	Jan 23	Feb 23	Total
38	30	24	34	35	161

Get Help If You’ve Been Assaulted Or Injured In A Religiously-Motivated Attack

If you’ve suffered an injury in a physical assault because of your religion or beliefs or perceived religion, you could be entitled to compensation. It’s possible to make a criminal injury claim from a government-funded body called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

At Legal Expert, we’re specialists in criminal injury compensation claims and we can help you too.

If you’d like to speak with us for free today, please call us on the number at the top of this page, speak with us via our live chat box, or click here to contact us in writing.

Medical professionals owe a duty of care to their patients to provide care of the correct standard. This duty of care extends to pharmacists. If a pharmacist fails to uphold their duty of care resulting in mistakes and errors with a prescription, these could lead a patient to suffer avoidable harm. As we move through our guide, we look at the potential steps that could be taken should an Allied Pharmacy prescription error occur and result in harm that could have been avoided.

To begin, we will discuss when medical negligence claims for pharmacist negligence could be possible. We also give some insight into what a dispensing error is with the help of some illustrative examples. Carrying on through the guide, you can see what evidence you could produce for a claim against a pharmacy.

Furthermore, we review the two different heads of loss that can come together to form a prescription error claim payout to address the different ways you have been affected. Lastly, you can learn what it means to have the expert backing of one of our solicitors under No Win No Fee terms.

You can get a consultation free of charge by using our helpline or online service. Check out the contact details below and choose any option for advice and support:

• Call 0800 073 8804.
• Ask about making a claim online so we can call you.
• Use the dedicated live chat support feature below.

Select A Section

1. Allied Pharmacy Prescription Error Claims Guide
2. Types Of Pharmacy Prescription Errors
3. What Evidence Could Help Prove A Prescription Error Claim?
4. How Much Compensation Could I Get For A Negligent Pharmacy Prescription Error?
5. Could A Solicitor Help With Allied Pharmacy Prescription Error Claims?
6. Additional Resources On Pharmacy Negligence Claims

Allied Pharmacy Prescription Error Claims Guide

When you visit your local pharmacy, you will be under the care of the professionals working there. Their tasks involve fulfilling prescriptions the pharmacy receives from a doctor, nurse practitioner or GP, checking and dispensing medicines, and giving patients advice on their medication and how to take it. They are also responsible for preparing, labelling, and storing medications.

As medical professionals, pharmacists must ensure they meet the standards expected of them. The Standards for Pharmacy Professionals are set out by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC), which is the regulatory organisation for British pharmacies and pharmacy technicians.

Given the potential side effects of many prescription drugs, dispensing errors and prescription errors could seriously impact a patient’s health. The patient may be able to seek compensation for unnecessary harm caused by the negligent mistake, if certain criteria can be met.

A claim for medical negligence must show that:

• A pharmacist professional owed you a duty of care.
• They did not uphold the correct standard of care and breached this duty.
• The resulting prescription error caused you to suffer avoidable harm.

If an Allied Pharmacy prescription error were to occur resulting in avoidable harm being suffered, call our team to have your potential case assessed.

Pharmacist Negligence Claim Time Limits

Generally, the limitation period for starting a medical negligence claim is three years from when the substandard care leading to avoidable harm occurred. This is due to a time limit set out by The Limitation Act 1980.

In certain cases, you may only discover a link between negligent treatment and avoidable harm later on. Therefore, the limitation period can alternatively be three years from learning about this connection, known as your date of knowledge.

There are further scenarios that might call for a different time limit, such as in cases where the injured person is a child or they lack the mental capacity to proceed. To find out more, or to ask any questions you have about making a valid claim for pharmacy negligence, please call us for free advice.

Types Of Pharmacy Prescription Errors

Whether they are giving you prescribed medicine, repeat medicines or an emergency prescription, pharmacists must ensure they are providing the correct standard of care. Here are some examples of avoidable harm caused by a failure to follow professional standards:

• Due to an administration error, your details are confused with another patient’s. The pharmacist gives you a medicine the doctor did not prescribe because of the mix-up.
• While sharing guidance, the pharmacy professional tells you to take a much higher dosage than you are meant to. As a result, you suffer the effects of an overdose.
• The pharmacy staff do not keep an eye on expiry dates for their supply and you are handed expired medications. As it is no longer effective, the medicine does not help, allowing your condition to worsen.
• A junior staff member undergoing training does not realise that the medicine they have prepared for you contains an ingredient that you are allergic to. The senior pharmacist monitoring the trainee does not review their work and the medication error is missed.

How Dispensing Errors Could Impact You

Dispensing errors can ultimately have a range of possible effects. In minor cases, getting the wrong medication might lead to headaches, nausea or dizziness. In others, you may end up having to get medical treatment or even undergo surgery for something completely different to the condition your prescription was meant to treat.

The most severe cases of an overdose or allergic reaction could cause anaphylactic shock, organ failure or brain damage.

While milder side effects could pose a short-term effect, some could cause long-term complications. 

Remember that you can only make a prescription error claim if your case meets all the eligibility criteria we laid out previously. This means that a pharmacist professional breached their duty of care and caused you to suffer avoidable harm.

You can get a clearer idea of your options should an Allied Pharmacy prescription error occur by making the most of our free assessment, so just call the number above to get started.

What Evidence Could Help Prove A Prescription Error Claim?

If you believe you have a valid pharmacy error claim, you can start collecting evidence that could be useful to substantiate your case and proves medical negligence.

You may be wondering what specifically you could collect. Examples include:

• A sample of the medication you were given.
• Packaging or labels that identify what you were given.
• Any details you can note down about the name of the pharmacist who gave you the medicine, the branch and your post-error treatment and symptoms.
• Witness contact information. You do not have to collect a statement about the alleged prescription error right away. If you instruct a solicitor to represent you, they can take witness statements at a later date.
• A record of treatment you received before and after the pharmacy error occurred. You can request a copy of your health records from your healthcare provider.

One of the benefits of instructing a No Win No Fee solicitor to assist your case is that they can help you gather and present evidence. They can also arrange an independent medical assessment that can generate a report to show the extent of the harm you experienced and how it’s likely to affect you in the future. This report can also be used to help value your potential claim.

To learn more about how a solicitor can help you through the claims process, simply call the number at the top of the page.

How Much Compensation Could I Get For A Negligent Pharmacy Prescription Error?

In the event that you have a successful pharmacy negligence case, you would receive compensation for the effects of substandard pharmaceutical care. It can affect you in different ways, so a payout can potentially be split into up to two heads of loss.

General damages, the first head of loss, will always be awarded in medical negligence settlements after a successful claim. This accounts for the avoidable physical damage and emotional harm caused by a pharmacy breaching their duty of care resulting in medical drug errors.

The table you can see below is made up of guideline compensation brackets for various illnesses and injuries. They come from a document called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is one of the sources those figuring out compensation could refer to when doing their calculations.

Compensation Table

This table is formed of JCG guideline figures. However, the top line is not taken from the JCG. This table should only be used as a guide.

INJURY	SEVERITY	COMPENSATION	NOTES
Multiple Serious Illnesses Or Injuries, Plus Financial Losses	Very Serious	Up to £1,000,000+	A payout accounting for multiple cases of serious physical or psychological harm. It also covers expenses caused by negligent care, such as lost earnings, medical fees and prescription charges.
Brain Damage	Moderately Severe	£267,340 to £344,150	The injured person is disabled to a very serious degree and depends on others for care.
	Moderate (i)	£183,190 to £267,340	A moderate to severe intellectual deficit is noted. The affected person has no prospect of employment.
	Moderate (ii)	£110,720 to £183,190	As well as a greatly reduced or removed ability to work, the affected person experiences a moderate to modest deficit of intellect.
Kidney	Both Kidneys	£206,730 to £256,780	Two kidneys are seriously and permanently damaged, if not lost completely.
Bladder	Double Incontinence	Up to £224,790	A total loss of natural bowel function, plus the complete removal of urinary function and control, as well as other medical complications.
	Significant	Up to £171,680	The absence of function and control.
Bowels	Total Loss of Natural Function	Up to £183,190	There may also be a need for colostomy, depending on the patient's age.
Spleen	Loss of Spleen	£25,380 to £32,090	Additionally, the patient is at risk of infection or disorders because of the damage sustained by their immune system.

Special Damages

If a negligent pharmacy error impacts your finances, you could also seek compensation under a secondary head of loss known as special damages. Among the future and past out-of-pocket expenses you could claim for are:

• Medical bills.
• Fees for new medication needed after the prescription error occurred.
• Travel costs.
• Domestic care invoices.
• A loss of earnings if you cannot work while ill.

It is often the case that claimants receive much more under the special damages head of loss than for their injuries or illnesses, especially if harm has long-term financial effects. Make sure you can claim for any financial losses you’ve suffered by collecting relevant documents like bank statements and payslips.

Call today if you’d like to learn more about compensation payouts for medical negligence claims or want to see what you could claim for if you had a valid case.

Could A Solicitor Help With Allied Pharmacy Prescription Error Claims?

Our specialist medical negligence solicitors are experts in the claims process and understand how to secure the best possible outcome for their clients. If you have a valid claim, you could sign up to a Conditional Fee Agreement with one of our solicitors.

This deal would mean that they apply their skills to your case without any upfront or running charge for their work. As a No Win No Fee agreement, the terms of a CFA also mean that you do not pay solicitor fees if they do not manage to guide your claim to a successful end.

Helping you win your case would mean the solicitor takes a success fee. The fee is a pre-agreed proportion of your compensation, though The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 ensures that it can only be a small percentage.

Contact Us To Discuss Your Potential Pharmacy Prescription Error Claim

Just get in touch and chat with an advisor from our team for further guidance. They are available 24/7 to answer your questions. If you have a valid claim, an advisor could connect you to an expert solicitor. Furthermore, there is no charge for calling or getting in touch online.

To make the most of this service today, either:

• Phone us on 0800 073 8804.
• Complete the ‘Claim Online’ web form.
• Use the live chat pop-up on this page to start a conversation.

Additional Resources On Pharmacy Negligence Claims

These additional guides could also help you:

• You can sue a doctor who prescribed the wrong medication, as we explain here.
• Read this guide to learn about prescription errors in hospitals and how to claim compensation.
• Learn about the Bolam Test and how it may be used in clinical negligence claims.

Here are some further useful resources:

• The GPC explains how to share feedback, concerns or complaints through its ‘Report a concern’ page.
• Find a registered and regulated pharmacy via the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care website.
• NHS guidance on poisoning, which includes overdosing on medication.

Thank you for reading our guide. To discuss the potential steps you could take should an Allied Pharmacy prescription error occur or learn more about how working with one of our solicitors could benefit you, please contact us any time.

You might be thinking about starting legal action against a negligent healthcare provider but could have concerns about the length or complexity of the process. Our guide to the stages of a medical negligence claim will give you clear and helpful insight into how the claims process works. 

This step-by-step guide covers important actions to take before starting a claim. We additionally cover the stages of pre-action protocol, which must be carried out in order to prevent a case from needing to go to court. 

We also explain why having legal representation from our expert medical negligence solicitors helps to keep the process running as smoothly as possible.

You can learn more about making a claim under No Win No Fee terms, and whether one of our solicitors could help you through the stages of a case, by speaking to an advisor. They can provide free, useful advice and a detailed assessment of your potential claim. You can get started any time by either:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804.
• Asking about your claim online so we can get in touch.
• Using the live support option below.

Select A Section

1. What Are The Stages Of A Medical Negligence Claim?
2. What Are The Stages Of Pre-Action Protocol For Medical Negligence Claims?
3. Will My Medical Negligence Claim Need To Go To Court?
4. Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me Through The Stages Of A Medical Negligence Claim?
5. More Resources On Medical Negligence Claims

What Are The Stages Of A Medical Negligence Claim?

A claim will go through pre-action protocol, which is intended to allow a case to be investigated, discussed and hopefully resolved in a timely fashion. The case may need to go to court if pre-action steps do not result in an agreement.

However, there are some steps you should consider before these stages of a medical negligence claim begin.

Step One: Discover If You Are Eligible To Make A Claim

The first key question to answer is: do you have a valid clinical or medical negligence claim?

Medical negligence means that care from a medical professional has deviated from the expected professional standards and caused avoidable harm.

Medical negligence cases against healthcare providers for negligent care must show that:

• A healthcare professional owed a duty of care.
• They did not provide care at a level expected of a competent professional.
• Their breach of duty meant the patient suffered harm that could otherwise have been avoided.

A quick and effective way to learn if you have a valid claim is by calling the number at the top of this page. By calling and talking to one of our friendly advisors, you can discover whether you have a valid medical negligence compensation claim.

Remember, the onus is on you to prove that the eligibility criteria above have been met, so it is important to collect as much supporting evidence as possible.

Step Two: Collecting Evidence Of Medical Negligence

The evidence required to prove medical negligence includes:

• Medical records, which we cover in more detail later in this guide.
• A statement or diary that explains how substandard medical treatment affected you.
• Witness statements from anyone who saw the negligent treatment take place. As such, you should collect the contact details of anyone who attended appointments with you.

If instructed, our solicitors can help claimants gather evidence during the clinical negligence claims process. 

As well as providing a free case assessment, our advisors can offer guidance on what evidence you can start looking for before your claim begins. Please don’t hesitate to call if you’d like to know more.

Step Three: Deciding Whether To Seek Legal Advice

Once you have a good idea of how strong your claim is, you should decide whether you want legal representation. You are not legally required to do so, but you may find it’s worthwhile to seek representation from a medical negligence solicitor.

Having a specialist solicitor on your side is useful for much more than gathering evidence. They can also:

• Submit any relevant claim form correctly and within the legal deadline.
• Help establish liability by making sure your evidence is presented effectively.
• Negotiate with the healthcare provider or their legal representatives on your behalf.
• Ensure you receive a suitable settlement in the event of a successful claim.
• Provide advice through all the stages of a medical negligence claim.

If you have a valid case and want the support of an experienced legal expert, our advisors could connect you to one right away when you call.

What Are The Stages Of Pre-Action Protocol For Medical Negligence Claims?

In this section, we cover seven elements of Pre-Action Protocol for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes that make up key stages of medical negligence claims.

Obtaining Health Records

Ultimately, medical negligence claims depend on showing that substandard care happened and caused some degree of avoidable harm. The best way to do this is through health records, which can be obtained from your GP or other healthcare provider.

Medical reports can show what actions the medical professional took or failed to take while you were under their care. They can also highlight the treatment you received after you were affected by substandard care and what diagnoses you were given.

Obtaining records is also important to show that new conditions have developed, or existing issues have worsened. 

Rehabilitation

During an initial consultation about the claim, all parties can discuss whether you have reasonable needs that can be met by medical treatment or another form of rehabilitation.

For example, if you were suing a hospital for unnecessary surgery but had an urgent need for rehabilitation, parties could discuss an arrangement for you to undergo physiotherapy.

Letter of Notification

Once you are ready to commence legal proceedings, the next step is to send a Letter of Notification to the defendant. This letter should explain that you are considering legal action. This allows the claimant to respond, which they must do within 14 days of receipt, and consider whether investigation is needed.

Letter of Claim

A Letter of Claim is more detailed than a Letter of Notification. It should give a clear summary of the alleged negligence and the facts you have based the case upon. It should also detail the physical harm, emotional suffering or financial loss you have experienced.

This letter should allow the defendant to start further investigation, if required, and prepare their Letter of Response.

It is worth noting that our solicitors can take care of sending letters to the defendant, or can help you write them. Just call our free helpline to discuss how a solicitor could help you claim against a medical practitioner.

Letter of Response

The defendant, or the legal team handling their case, should send the Letter of Response within 14 days of receiving the Letter of Claim. In this letter, they can respond by accepting or denying liability. They may also attempt to settle and propose how much compensation they are willing to offer.

If they do not accept fault for medical negligence, they should explain what disputes they have with the evidence presented by the claimant or the information they have provided.

Expert Evidence

As part of the medical negligence claim process, you will need to seek expert testimony. This will contribute to the medical evidence submitted as part of your case. If you work with a solicitor, they can arrange an assessment from an independent medical expert.

In certain cases, the Bolam Test may also be required, where relevantly trained medical experts determine whether your care met the correct standard.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

An Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a method of ensuring that the matter can be resolved without commencing proceedings in court. This might mean negotiation, arbitration by a third party, or other means.

A resolution could be reached regardless of whether a defendant admits liability or not, if all parties agree that it is best to resolve the dispute without going to court.

Will My Medical Negligence Claim Need To Go To Court?

When considering the stages of a medical negligence claim, it is possible that your case may need to go to court. However, the truth of the matter is that the vast majority of cases are resolved before ever reaching the courts.

Particularly complex cases, or claims where the claimant and defendant are in total disagreement, might need to be heard in court. Outside of these specific circumstances, both parties will typically find a solution during the ADR stage of pre-action protocol.

Our expert solicitors will always look to resolve the case in a way that gives you the most successful outcome possible. Call today to learn if you have a valid case and you could be connected to a solicitor for dedicated legal guidance.

Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me Through The Stages Of A Medical Negligence Claim?

The medical negligence claims process may seem complicated at first glance. However, our solicitors use their knowledge and experience of cases to help claimants through all stages of a medical negligence claim with minimal hassle.

Our medical negligence solicitors offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement, which means that you do not pay a solicitor fee upfront or during the course of the claim.

As it is a type of No Win No Fee agreement, you would not cover the cost of legal fees at all if the claim failed.

Winning the case would mean that you receive financial compensation. Your solicitor would collect a success fee, but a legal cap set out by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 means that they can only take a small percentage of the payout.

Contact Us

You can learn more about claims against medical professionals and how the claims process works by getting in touch with our team. An advisor can provide guidance and evaluate your case to see if you could start a medical negligence claim.

If you have a valid case, you can be connected to one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors for expert legal guidance. However, there is no obligation and contacting us is completely free, so you have total freedom to choose the right path for you.

You can get in touch today through any of these routes:

• Call 0800 073 8804.
• Write to us about your claim online and pass on some contact information.
• Speak to an advisor immediately through the live chat tab below.

More Resources On Medical Negligence Claims

You can learn more about making a clinical negligence claim through these helpful guides:

• Our compensation calculator guide provides some insight into the compensation you could be awarded if you have a valid and successful claim.
• We look at prescription error compensation claims and how to sue healthcare professionals responsible for negligent medication mistakes.
• We also discuss how to make a complaint about medical negligence as well as claiming.

These resources could also be useful to you:

• Helpful annual statistics on clinical claims from NHS Resolution.
• Detail on Statutory Sick Pay from GOV.UK.
• The General Medical Council, a regulatory body for doctors, explains how to raise concerns about a doctor’s conduct.

Thank you for reading our guide. Just call if you’d like more information on the stages of a medical negligence claim or to discuss your potential case.

Have you been involved in a cycling accident? Did you suffer an injury? If so, you might wonder what steps to take. This guide focuses specifically on the importance of reporting a cycling accident to the police and when you might be required to do so. 

Additionally, we look at some cycling accident statistics which can show the frequency of cyclists being injured in an accident and the ways road traffic accidents could be caused.

Later in our guide, we discuss other steps you could take after a cycling accident. For example, if you want to claim compensation, you will require evidence to substantiate your case so taking steps to collect proof of the accident and how it affected you can be helpful. 

Lastly, you can find information on how we can assist you if you do wish to make a personal injury claim following a cycling accident. 

For further guidance on cycling accident claims, you can get in touch with our team using the contact details below:

• Call on 0800 073 8804
• Fill out our contact form with your details
• Use the live chat feature below

Select A Section

1. Reporting A Cycling Accident To The Police Explained
2. How Many Cyclist Accidents Are Reported To The Police 
3. What Do I Need To Do As A Cyclist After A Road Collision 
4. Can I Make A Personal Injury Claim As A Cyclist After A Road Accident?
5. How Can Legal Expert Help Me Make A Cyclist Accident Claim 
6. More Resources On Making A Cycling Accident Claim

Reporting A Cycling Accident To The Police Explained

If you are involved in an accident that causes damage or injury with a vehicle driver, if they fail to provide their details to you, they must report the accident to the police within 24 hours. This is something you can also do.

When reporting a cycling accident to the police, you may be required to provide the following details:

• The location of the accident.
• The nature of the accident, such as whether a vehicle collided with something or someone.
• Whether anyone was injured in the accident.
• How long ago the accident happened, such as whether it was more than 6 months ago.
• The contact details of any parties involved in the accident, such as their name, insurance details, and registration number.
• The contact details of any independent witnesses to the accident.

You should keep hold of your police incident number and record anyone you speak to when making the police report or after it has been submitted. This can help if you later decide to claim compensation for any injuries sustained in the accident.

How Many Cyclist Accidents Are Reported To The Police? 

The Reported road casualties in Great Britain: pedal cycle factsheet, 2022, released by the Department for Transport, provides helpful statistics relating to accidents involving pedal cyclists. These statistics show how many road accidents involving cyclists were reported to the police:

• 91 pedal cyclists killed
• 4,056 reported seriously injured
• 11,546 slightly injured

Furthermore, between 2018 and 2022, almost half (46%) of pedal cycle fatalities were in 2 vehicle collisions between a pedal cycle and a car.

The reporting police officer often assigns a contributory factor to provide an insight into how and why collisions occur. Whilst the factors are mostly subjective due to reflecting the opinion of the police officer, we can see that the most common factors assigned to vehicles involved in fatal or serious collisions with cyclists are:

• Failing to look properly
• Failing to judge another person’s path or speed
• Driver or rider being careless, reckless, or in a hurry
• Cyclist entering the road from pavement

Reporting a cycling accident to the police can help massively when it comes to road safety. To find out more, please see this guide from Cycling UK, a charity for cycling safety

What Do I Need To Do As A Cyclist After A Road Collision?

As well as reporting a cyclist accident to the police, there are several other steps you may need to take following a cycling accident on the road. Getting medical treatment for any injuries you have suffered should be your first priority. Injuries that may seem only minor could turn out to be much more serious, so it is always best to seek medical advice. If the accident that caused your injury was not your fault, you may be thinking about making a personal injury claim. Here, we look at steps to help you do that. 

Medical Help

After an accident in which you suffer an injury, it’s important to seek advice from a medical professional. They can investigate your injury, provide a diagnosis, and any treatment necessary. 

If you plan to claim compensation, you can gather a copy of your medical records to help support your case. For example, copies of X-rays, blood test results, notes from a doctor or the hospital could all help show what injuries you suffered and the treatment you received.

Evidence

In addition to medical evidence, you could also gather the following:

• Contact details of any witnesses who can provide information about the accident.
• Contact details of anyone involved in the accident including their insurance and registration details.
• Pictures of injuries and the cause of the accident, such as another motor vehicle
• Video footage, such as CCTV footage. This can highlight any dangerous driving by another road user putting your own safety at risk.
• A police report
• A diary containing information about any symptoms and treatments 

You might also need to attend an independent medical assessment. This can generate a report that can help verify the injuries you suffered were caused by the accident in which you sustained them. It can also be used to help calculate the value of your injuries. 

Legal Advice

It could benefit you to seek legal representation from a personal injury solicitor if you are looking to start a compensation claim. They could help you:

• Gather evidence
• Arrange for you to attend an independent medical exam 
• Negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf 
• Send important correspondence on your behalf 

Call our advisors today to learn more about the other steps you could take after reporting a cycling accident to the police, including gathering evidence and seeking legal representation. 

Can I Make A Personal Injury Claim As A Cyclist After A Road Accident?

In order to make a personal injury claim as a cyclist after a road traffic accident, you need to prove:

• Another road user, such as a driver, owed you a duty of care. Road users owe one another a duty of care to prevent causing each other harm or damage while using the roads. They can uphold this duty by following the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988. The Highway Code provides rules that are backed elsewhere in law.
• This duty was breached. For example, a driver failed to check their mirrors when pulling out of their driveway causing them to knock you over as a cyclist.
• Due to the breach, you suffered an injury in the accident, such as a head injury and back injury.

Call our team to determine whether you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim with one of our expert cycling accident solicitors. 

How Can Legal Expert Help Me Make A Cyclist Accident Claim

Our team at Legal Expert can assess your case for free and determine whether you’re eligible to pursue compensation. If you are, they could connect you with an expert personal injury solicitor who has years of experience handling claims for cycling accidents and injuries.

Our solicitors also offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis via the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement which means you can access their services without paying upfront or ongoing fees. You also won’t need to pay for their work if the claim fails.

To find out more about how they can help you claim compensation after reporting a cyclist accident to the police, get in touch using the details provided below:

• Call on 0800 073 8804
• Fill out our contact form with your details
• Use the live chat feature below

More Resources On Making A Cycling Accident Claim

For more of our helpful guides:

• Find out how to make a personal injury claim for a cycling activity that led you to sustain an injury.
• Discover if you could claim for a cycling accident if you didn’t wear a helmet and the steps you can take to secure a settlement.
• Learn what steps you could take if you were hit by a car as a cyclist and how to claim compensation.

More external resources:

• Information about claiming Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from Gov.UK.
• Discover if you could claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau after being hit by an uninsured or untraceable driver.
• Advice on first aid from the NHS.

Thank you for reading our guide on reporting a cycling accident to the police and other steps you could take after being injured. If you have any other questions, call an advisor on the number above. 

This guide explains, “How is medical negligence compensation calculated?”. Medical negligence is when a patient suffers harm that should have been prevented (otherwise known as avoidable harm) due to a medical professional failing to provide the correct standard of care.

For all successful medical negligence cases, numerous factors need to be considered to determine a claim’s worth. In the first section of this guide, we explain those factors. We will also explain the different forms of compensation you may be awarded for a successful clinical negligence claim, and provide you with a guideline compensation table to help you understand how much the harm you have suffered may be worth,

We also discuss at what point someone has a valid medical negligence claim, with some brief examples of how a medical professional could breach their duty of care. If you do have a valid compensation claim after experiencing medical negligence, you may be able to claim compensation with one of our solicitors on a No Win No Fee basis. At the end of this guide, we explain what No Win No Fee agreement is offered by our medical negligence solicitors and how it can greatly benefit you when claiming compensation.

It is free to contact our team to discuss your case. Our advisors can support you and help answer any questions you may have about the claiming process. They are available 24/7 through these contact options:

• Call 0800 073 8804
• Enquire about your potential claim online.
• Use our live chat box.

Jump To A Section

1. How Is Medical Negligence Compensation Calculated?
2. How Much Medical Negligence Compensation Could I Be Awarded?
3. Am I Eligible To Claim For Medical Negligence?
4. Why Claim With A No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitor?
5. Learn More About How Medical Negligence Compensation Is Calculated

How Is Medical Negligence Compensation Calculated?

When a medical negligence claim is successful, the person will receive financial compensation for how the negligence affected them. These effects are separated into physical, psychological, and potentially financial.

General Damages

General damages is the head of loss which awards compensation for how the medical negligence has affected you physically and psychologically. Some factors that are taken into consideration when this head of your claim is being calculated include:

• The type of harm you suffered and its severity.
• How your emotional health has changed.
• How your quality of life has been impacted.
• How long your medical treatment and recovery period is.

You may be able to use a medical negligence claims calculator to help you gain a clearer idea of how much compensation you could receive in general damages. A medical negligence calculator works by asking you what harm you suffered and how severe your pain is.

Special Damages

Special damages is the head of loss which awards compensation for how the medical negligence has affected you financially. This head of loss also covers any future financial losses which you may incur due to the medical negligence. As such, here are some financial losses which may be able to be claimed under special damages:

• The costs of medical treatments and prescriptions.
• The costs for medical equipment, such as a wheelchair.
• Lost earnings due to taking time off work to recover. This includes any projection pension payouts if your future employability is affected.

• How much travelling to and from hospital appointments have cost.

• Professional care costs if you required help at home.

By being awarded special damages, your financial position should be restored to what it was before you experienced the medical negligence.

However, you need to keep evidence of the financial losses you are claiming for. For example, payslips, invoices, receipts, and bank statements can be used as evidence.

If you still have any questions regarding how medical negligence compensation is calculated or how to use a medical negligence claims calculator please don’t hesitate to have a chat with us.

How Much Medical Negligence Compensation Could I Be Awarded?

To help determine how much compensation you could receive under general damages, you might be asked to attend an independent medical assessment sometime throughout the case process. The reports conducted from this assessment can be looked at by those in charge of valuing your claim.

They may also look at the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG documents different guideline compensation amounts for different forms of physical and psychological harm.

Guideline Compensation Table

There are many types of different physical and psychological effects that could be suffered from medical negligence. However, we have taken a small selection from the JCG, along with their guideline compensation amounts, to give you a rough idea of what could be awarded. Please note, however, that the first entry has not been taken from the JCG.

Also, note that no set compensation amount can be guaranteed for your potential claim since all cases are different and unique.

Harm Suffered	Severity	Guideline compensation amounts	Notes
Multiple types of serious harm with financial impacts	Serious	Up to £500,000+	A compensation amount for sustaining multiple types of serious harm with their financial impacts such as lost wages, professional care costs, and home adaptations.
Kidney	Serious/permanent damage or loss (a)	£206,730 to £256,780	To both kidneys.
	Loss of one kidney (c)	£37,550 to £54,760	The remaining kidney is fine.
Bowel	Double incontinence (a)	Up to £224,790	With other medical complications, there is no bowel or bladder control or natural function.
	Total loss of natural function (b)	Up to £183,190	The person will depend on a colostomy. The award will depend on the person's age.
Female reproductive system	Infertility (a)	£140,210 to £207,260	Including cases of significant medical complications such as failing to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy.
	Failed sterilisation (g)	In the region of £12,450	That leads to an unwanted pregnancy, but there are no serious psychological impacts.
Bladder	Serious impairment of control (c)	£78,080 to £97,540	Along with some pain and incontinence.
Male reproductive system	Uncomplicated sterility (d)	£68,430 to £87,080	There will be no impotence or any aggravating features for a young person with no children.
Spleen	Loss of spleen (a)	£25.380 to £32,090	Where the risk of internal disorders and infections are continuing due to the immune system's damage.

If you want to find out how much compensation your potential medical negligence claim could be worth, please contact us.

Am I Eligible To Claim For Medical Negligence?

All medical professionals and healthcare professionals owe a duty of care to all of the patients under their care. To comply with this duty, they are expected to always deliver the correct standard of care. If they deliver a standard of care that is substandard and falls below this minimum expectation, this is considered a breach of their duty of care.

For example, if a GP prescribed a medication to you that contained something you were allergic to, and they were aware of this allergy as it was stated in your medical records, this could cause you to suffer an allergic reaction. This could be classed as GP negligence.

As such, if you can prove each of the criteria below, then you could have an eligible medical negligence claim:

1. You were owed a duty of care by a medical professional.
2. They breached this duty.
3. As a result of this, you suffered avoidable harm.

Time Limits In Medical Negligence Claims

There is a standard 3-year time limit for most medical negligence claims, as the Limitation Act 1980 states. The time limit begins from the date the medical negligence took place or the date you first became aware of the medical negligence. This is sometimes referred to as the date of knowledge.

However, the time limit is paused if the claimant lacks the mental capacity to claim on their own. While it is paused, a litigation friend can be appointed by the courts to claim on their behalf. Should they regain this capability and no claim has been started, the claimant will have 3 years to begin their own legal proceedings from the date they recovered this mental capability.

Additionally, those under the age of 18 who have suffered medical negligence will have the time limit paused until their 18th birthday, at which point they will have 3 years to begin their own medical negligence claim. A litigation friend could begin this process on their behalf prior to the claimant’s 18th birthday.

Our team can give you more details about the medical negligence claims time limit and its exceptions. They can also confirm whether you are eligible to claim clinical negligence compensation and answer any questions you may have regarding how medical negligence compensation is calculated.

Why Claim With A No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitor?

If you have an eligible clinical negligence compensation claim, our team can connect you with one of our specialist No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitors. Our solicitors have years of experience working on various clinical negligence claims. Some of the services they can offer to you include:

• Help with gathering evidence to support your case, such as medical records and eyewitness statements.
• Ensuring your claim is submitted within the time limit.
• Explaining any legal jargon that is used throughout the claiming process that you might not understand.
• Ensuring you receive a fair compensation settlement by negotiating this on your behalf.

Additionally, if one of the No Win No Fee solicitors on our team agrees to take on your case, they may offer their services to you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

Here are some reasons why it is greatly beneficial to be represented by a solicitor under a CFA when making your claim:

• You will pay no upfront fees for the work that your solicitor does.
• You will pay no ongoing fees for the work that your solicitor does
• If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay any fees at all for the work your solicitor has provided.

If your claim is successful, your solicitor can take a success fee out of your compensation. A success fee is a legally capped percentage. This percentage will be discussed with you prior to the claiming process beginning.

Start Your Case

Talk to our team to see if one of our expert solicitors could help you with your case. Our advisors can also help answer any questions you may still have, such as ‘How is medical negligence compensation calculated?’. You can speak directly with an advisor for free if you:

• Call 0800 073 8804
• Enquire about your potential claim online.
• Use our live chat box.

Learn More About How Medical Negligence Compensation Is Calculated

Below are a few of our related guides:

• How to prove medical negligence and what evidence you should gather.
• Find out what the average payout is for cancer misdiagnosis in successful cases.
• Find out what the average payout is for medical negligence resulting in death if you are looking to claim on behalf of someone else.

Below are some pages which might provide you with useful information:

• Gov.UK – how to receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work.
• Royal College of Nursing (RCN) – information on a nurse’s duty of care.
• General Medical Council (GMC) – information on a doctor’s expected good medical practice.

Thank you for reading our “How is medical negligence compensation calculated?” guide. We hope to have answered your questions. If not, you can always contact a friendly member of our advisory team.