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Have you been affected by GP negligence?

When you trust a GP with your care, the last thing you expect is to be harmed. If your GP failed their duty of care and you've suffered as a result, our Helpline Advisors can help you explore your options for making a GP negligence compensation claim.

What is classed as GP negligence?

GP negligence happens when a general practitioner (GP) fails to provide the expected standard of care, resulting in harm, injury or a worsening of an existing condition. Common examples of GP negligence include:

Misdiagnosis

One of the most common reasons for a GP negligence claim is misdiagnosis. This happens when a GP incorrectly identifies a condition, which can result in a serious illness being mistaken for something minor. Conditions that are commonly missed or wrongly diagnosed include cancer, meningitis, heart attacks, strokes and fractures.

Delayed diagnosis

Delayed diagnosis occurs when a GP eventually identifies the correct condition, but only after an avoidable delay. For example, if you report worsening symptoms over several appointments, but further tests or treatment are not arranged. Delays like these can mean conditions go undetected and can seriously affect your prognosis.

Failure to refer to a specialist

GPs should recognise when a patient needs further investigation, specialist advice or urgent treatment. If a GP fails to refer a patient with concerning symptoms or does not escalate an emergency situation, it can result in a worsening condition.

Wrong prescriptions

This includes prescribing the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, unsuitable medication based on a patient's medical history, or failing to carry out appropriate checks. These errors can lead to avoidable harm, side effects or further health complications.

What is the GP negligence claims process?

If you think you've experienced GP negligence, our Helpline Advisors on can listen to what happened, answer your questions and help you understand your options. If you're eligible to claim, we'll connect you with a solicitor who can guide you through the next steps. The claims process will usually involve the following stages:

Initial consultation: Your solicitor will discuss what happened, review the details of your case and assess whether you may have a valid claim.

Gathering evidence: If your claim can proceed, your solicitor will collect evidence, which may include your medical records and reports from independent medical experts who assess the care you received.

Making the claim: Your solicitor will send a formal letter to the GP or their insurer, explaining what happened, why they believe negligence occurred and how this has affected you.

Response: The GP's insurer will investigate the claim and respond, either accepting responsibility or disputing the claim.

Negotiations: If responsibility is accepted, your solicitor will negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Most claims are resolved this way without going to court.

Court proceedings: In some cases, where responsibility cannot be agreed, court proceedings may be needed. If this happens, your solicitor will guide you through the process and explain the next steps.

What evidence do I need for my GP negligence claim?

Having the right evidence can help support your GP negligence claim by showing what happened, the care you received, and how your GP failed in their duty of care to you. Evidence needed in a negligence claim often includes:

Medical records: These are usually the starting point for a claim and include details of your appointments, symptoms, diagnoses, treatment and test results. Your solicitor can request these on your behalf with your permission.
Independent medical reports: Your solicitor will ask an independent medical expert to review your care and provide an opinion on whether the expected standard of care was provided and whether this caused you harm.
Witness statements: Statements from family, friends or others who saw what happened or have noticed how your condition has affected your daily life can help provide further context.
Photos and correspondence: Photos may help show the impact of any visible injuries, while letters, referrals and communication between healthcare providers can help show what action was taken and when.

How long do I have to make a claim?

Time limits for making a medical negligence claim in most cases is three years from the date the negligence occurred, or from the date you first became aware that your GP's care may have caused your harm. Within this timeframe, your claim must either be settled, or court proceedings must begin.

Because it takes time to properly investigate a claim, gather medical records, and secure expert opinions, we'd always recommend starting your claim as early as possible. If you're not sure if you're within the time limit, call us on and our Helpline Advisors will be able to give you guidance and let you know if you have grounds for a GP negligence claim.

How much compensation for GP negligence claims?

The amount of compensation you could receive for GP negligence depends on the injury you've suffered, how it's affected your life, and any financial losses you've experienced as a result. Compensation is made up of two parts:

General damages: Covering the pain, suffering and impact the negligence has had on your life. This includes things like ongoing symptoms, reduced quality of life, and any long-term or permanent effects of your injury.

Special damages: Covering the financial impact of the negligence. This can include lost earnings, medical expenses, such as private treatment or medication, care costs if you've needed help from a family member or professional carer and travel expenses for additional medical appointments.

No two GP negligence claims are the same, so compensation can vary. If you'd like a better idea of what you could receive, our compensation calculator can give you an estimate in just two minutes.

Compensation Calculator

We’ll calculate your compensation in a few minutes.

Choosing the right GP negligence solicitor

Starting a GP negligence claim can feel overwhelming, especially when you're looking for the right solicitor. We're here to make that part easy by connecting you with a trusted, regulated GP negligence solicitor who specialises in cases like yours. We only work with legal firms that are regulated by The Law Society in England and Wales or the Law Society of Scotland, so you can feel confident your claim is in safe hands.

If you feel ready to discuss your case, our Helpline Advisors are here to listen on , or if you'd prefer, you can request a callback.

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Meet the team

John Kushnick

Legal Director

With extensive personal injury legal and senior management experience, John oversees the optimisation of the customer journey - from the start of a claim through to final settlement.

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GP Negligence Claims FAQs

Can I make a claim on behalf of someone else?

In some circumstances, you can make a GP negligence claim on behalf of someone else. This may apply if the person is:

Under the age of 18
An adult who lacks the mental capacity to manage their own claim
Someone who has sadly passed away

If you're making a claim for a child or an adult who lacks mental capacity, you'll act as their litigation friend. This means you'll make decisions about the claim and work with the solicitor on their behalf.

For children, a claim can be made at any point before they turn 18. If no claim has been made by then, they usually have until their 21st birthday to start one themselves.

If you're thinking about making a claim on behalf of someone else, we can help you understand your options and connect you with a specialist solicitor who can guide you through the process. Start your claim today by calling us on .

Will I have to go to court?

Most GP negligence claims are settled through negotiation without ever going to court. If the other party disputes who was at fault or a fair compensation amount can't be agreed, court proceedings may be necessary. Even then, many claims are settled before a final hearing takes place. If your claim does go to court, your solicitor will handle the legal process on your behalf, prepare your case, and guide you through each step.

Should you complain before making a GP negligence claim?

No, you don't have to make a formal complaint to your GP practice before starting a negligence claim. You can begin the claims process whether or not you've made a complaint and making one won't affect your right to seek compensation.

However, some people choose to complain first because it can help them understand what happened during their treatment. The response from the GP practice may also provide useful information that your solicitor can use when investigating your claim.

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Visit our general FAQs page for more information.

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