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When you visit your GP, you expect safe, timely and accurate care. But when mistakes happen, the impact on your health can be serious. GP negligence claims are legal cases brought by patients who have suffered harm because their doctor failed to provide an acceptable standard of care. Our experienced medical negligence solicitors understand how complex these cases can be, and are here to guide you every step of the way. With a No Win No Fee arrangement, you can pursue a claim without worrying about upfront solicitor fees.
If you have been affected, you may be eligible to claim compensation. In most cases, you can make a claim if a doctor or healthcare professional was responsible for your care, made a mistake or failed to act properly, and this caused you harm. These claims are not just about financial compensation, they can also provide answers, accountability and access to the support you need to move forward.
Our medical negligence solicitors can assess your case, gather evidence such as medical records and expert opinions, and handle the legal process on your behalf.
4.8 (466 reviews) GP negligence claims are a way for you to seek answers and compensation if you have been harmed by medical treatment that fell below the expected standard from a general practitioner. These claims are designed to hold medical professionals accountable where negligent care has caused avoidable harm, and to help you recover both physically and financially where possible.
Making a claim is not just about compensation; it can also provide clarity on what went wrong and reassurance that steps may be taken to prevent the same issues from affecting others.
At Legal Expert, our specialised solicitors understand how difficult it can be to come to terms with substandard medical care, and they are here to provide you with clear advice and practical guidance throughout the process.
If you would like to discuss your situation in more detail, you can contact our solicitors for clear, supportive guidance on your options.
You could make GP negligence claims if certain eligibility requirements are met. The main criteria you need to meet are explained below:
Your GP is legally responsible for providing care that meets the minimum expected standard of a reasonably competent healthcare professional in the same position. This is the duty of care that is owed to you as a patient.
The next step is showing that this duty was breached. This happens when the care you received falls below an acceptable standard of medical practice, meaning a reasonable GP in the same situation would have acted differently.
A breach may arise where a GP fails to refer a patient for further tests or specialist assessment despite clear symptoms that should reasonably have prompted further investigation.
Finally, it must be proven that this breach directly caused avoidable harm. In other words, your condition must have worsened, or you must have suffered injury or loss that would likely have been prevented with adequate care.
In most GP negligence claims, you will not claim compensation directly from the GP. Instead, it is usually handled through their medical indemnity insurance or NHS Resolution if the care was provided within the NHS. This means the process is focused on securing the compensation you may be entitled to, rather than pursuing the individual GP personally.
Our specialist solicitors can explain the process clearly and deal with the relevant insurers or NHS bodies on your behalf.
No, it is not unethical to bring a claim against a GP. If care falls below the expected standard and causes avoidable harm, a claim is a lawful way to seek compensation and accountability.
These claims are not about blame, but about recognising what has gone wrong and getting the support you may be entitled to.
Yes, you can make a claim for GP surgery negligence if you have been harmed due to poor standards at a medical centre. This could include issues such as administrative errors, lost or delayed test results, poor communication, unsafe systems or failures in how the practice is run that lead to incorrect or delayed treatment.
To have a valid claim, you will need to show that the care or service provided by the surgery fell below an acceptable standard and caused you harm.
Yes, GP negligence claims can, in certain situations, be made on behalf of a loved one. This is applicable to claimants who are unable to bring a claim independently, and can include:
In these situations, a family member or appointed representative may act as a litigation friend. This means they help manage the claim, make decisions in the person’s best interests, and work with solicitors throughout the process.
Get in touch with our solicitors to learn more about how this process works and to discuss whether you could make a claim on behalf of a loved one today.
There are several ways GP negligence claims can arise, often where mistakes or delays in care lead to avoidable harm. Below are some common examples that may help you understand how this can happen in practice:
These are just a few examples of how GP negligence claims can arise, and every situation is different. If you would like to discuss your own circumstances in more detail, contact us today to speak with our solicitors team at Legal Expert.
Negligent care at a GP surgery can lead to a range of serious complications, particularly where conditions are not diagnosed or treated correctly. When medical issues are allowed to progress without proper care, the impact on your health can be significant, and in some cases, life-changing.
Some of the possible complications include:
These outcomes can affect not only your physical health but also your emotional wellbeing and financial stability. If you have experienced complications due to negligent care, you may be entitled to seek compensation for the harm caused.
If you are dealing with any of these difficulties, our solicitors at Legal Expert are here to listen and talk you through your options. We can help you understand whether you may be able to take forward a GP negligence claim and what support could be available to you.
The amount of GP negligence compensation you could claim depends on the severity of the harm you’ve experienced and the long-term impact it has had on your life. Additionally, compensation in medical negligence claims is usually made up of two types of loss: general damages and special damages.
When assessing general damages, professionals refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which provide guideline compensation brackets for different types of injury.
GP negligence compensation can also include special damages, which cover financial losses such as lost earnings and medical expenses. We explore this further in our guide.
We have used figures from the JCG to create the table below. These figures are only intended as guidance, as every GP negligence claim is assessed on its own individual circumstances and please note that the top entry has not been taken from the JCG.
| Type of Harm | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Types of Harm + Special Damages | Very Severe - where a claimant has suffered multiple serious types of harm, as well as financial losses such as lost income, extensive medical expenses and costs of professional care | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Very Severe - with some, if any ability to follow basic commands, and little if any response to environment | £372,570 to £533,720 |
| Moderately Severe - serious level of disablement and a large reliability on others for care | £289,420 to £372,570 | |
| Kidney | Severe (a) - permanent and serious damage to or the loss of both kidneys | £223,800 to £277,980 |
| Bowels | Severe (a) - cases where the claimant has experienced double incontinence, and the total loss of natural function of both the bowel and bladder | Up to £243,350 |
| Serious (b) - total loss of natural bowel function and a dependence on a colostomy, depending on age | Up to £198,320 | |
| Bladder | Serious (b) Complete Loss of Function and Control | Up to £185,840 |
| Lung Disease | Severe (a) - high probability of progressive worsening, leading to premature death in a young person | £133,000 to £179,560 |
| Digestive System - Non-Traumatic Injury | Severe (i) - toxicosis requiring hospital admission and continuing incontinence | £50,770 to £69,360 |
| Spleen | Severe (a) - entire loss of the spleen where there is ongoing risk of internal infection | £27,480 to £34,740 |
Yes, in GP negligence claims you could claim for other damages, namely special damages for the financial losses caused. For many people affected by GP negligence, the impact can extend well beyond their initial treatment, with financial difficulties continuing for months or even years. Special damages are designed to help ease that burden by supporting both your immediate costs and any future financial needs linked to your condition.
Below are some common examples of special damages that may be included in GP negligence claims:
It’s important to note here that in order for you to seek special damages within your compensation, you will need evidence that proves these financial losses. This could include payslips, invoices or receipts that demonstrate costs.
A member of the Legal Expert team can give you a free estimate of how much compensation your GP negligence claim could be worth.
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At Legal Expert, we understand that making a claim against a negligent GP can feel stressful and overwhelming, which is why our specialist solicitors are here to guide you through the process with clear, supportive advice from start to finish.
Our expert medical negligence solicitors provide a personalised service built around supporting our clients. We understand how upsetting it can be to deal with negligent care, which is why we focus on clear legal guidance, reassurance, and practical support from the beginning. With experience handling GP negligence cases, our solicitors have helped clients secure compensation for avoidable harm and its long-term impact.
Our commitment goes beyond legal advice alone. Where needed, we can help connect you with appropriate healthcare professionals and support services to aid your recovery, whether that involves further treatment, rehabilitation, or emotional support following negligent treatment.
Some of the services we offer include:
Our solicitors at Legal Expert handle GP negligence claims on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you do not need to pay any upfront fees for your solicitors’ work to begin your claim, and you are not faced with ongoing payments for their work during the case progression. If your claim is not successful, you’d have nothing to pay for your solicitor’s work. This helps to minimise financial risk when making a claim.
If your claim is successful, a success fee is taken from your compensation. The success fee is always explained clearly from the outset and is legally capped under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 to ensure fairness. Our solicitors will make sure you fully understand how the agreement works before you proceed, so there are no surprises and you can make informed decisions with confidence.
If you have concerns about the care you received from your GP, our advisors can offer you a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your situation in confidence.
If your case is eligible, they can also connect you with one of our expert medical negligence solicitors, who can advise you on the next steps in your GP negligence claim.
To reach our advisory team, you can:
Why not read more of our medical negligence pages about:
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Thank you for reading our guide on GP negligence claims, we hope it has been useful for you today.
