NHS Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence
How To Claim Compensation For Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence
An NHS walk-in centre is a clinic where anyone can go to receive medical treatment without having booked an appointment, even if they are not registered with a GP. When you are being treated by a medical practitioner you are owed a duty of care. Therefore if you are injured because of walk-in centre medical negligence or your condition is made worse, you may be eligible to make a medical negligence claim for compensation.
If you have been harmed because of NHS walk-in centre clinical negligence, call Legal Expert today to see if you are eligible to claim. If you have legitimate grounds to claim, we will provide you with an experienced medical negligence solicitor to handle your claim.
Call Legal Expert’s claims helpline today on 0800 073 8804, or alternatively use our online compensation form.
Select A Section
- A Guide To NHS Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence Claims
- What Is Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence?
- Medical Conditions which Could Be Treated In A Walk-In Clinic
- How To Find An NHS Walk-In Centre In Your Area?
- Can Anyone Use An NHS Walk-In Centre?
- NHS Walk-In Centre Complaints Guide
- Common Clinical Errors Which Could Happen In An NHS Walk-In Centre
- NHS Walk-In Centre Minor Injuries
- Walk-In Centre And Clinic Acquired Infections
- Types Of Medical Negligence By A Walk-In Centre You Could Claim For
- Duty Of Care Owed By Walk-In Clinic Nursing Staff And Doctors
- Top Private Providers Of Walk-In Centres
- NHS Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence Compensation Calculator
- No Win No Fee Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence
- We’re Here To Listen
- Need More Help
A Guide To NHS Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence Claims
Many people go to a GP for medical treatment when they are injured or ill. However, some people may choose to use an NHS walk-in centre instead.
What is an NHS walk-in centre or walk-in clinic? It is a clinic run by the NHS where a member of the public can get same-day treatment without making an appointment. Some NHS walk-in centres are staffed entirely by nurses and some also have GPs or other doctors.
Reasons for using a walk-in centre can include the following:
- The patient is not registered with a GP
- The patient needs a same-day appointment and their GP does not have one available
- Or their GP surgery is closed.
Because there is often a wait to see a nurse or a doctor at a walk-in centre, walk-in centres shouldn’t be used in cases of a medical emergency.
Can anyone use an NHS walk-in centre? Yes, when used appropriately anyone can use an NHS walk-in centre.
The NHS also offers other types of walk-in treatment clinics that offer specific services. These include Urgent Treatment Centres (sometimes called Urgent Care Centres), which patients can go to if they believe they have a serious but not life-threatening condition, for example, a suspected broken arm.
Patients can also go to Minor Injury Units. These are departments at some UK hospitals where a nurse can tend to injuries that are not serious such as a laceration that may need stitches. This may be called an NHS walk-in centre for minor injuries.
We will now look at how a patient could be injured if they experience walk-in clinic negligence in more detail.
What Is Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence?
Medical negligence is when a medical practitioner breaches the duty of care they owe to their patient and as a result, the patient is harmed. This can also be referred to as clinical negligence or medical malpractice.
Walk-in centre clinical negligence, as the name implies, is when walk-in centre staff breach the duty of care they owe to their patients, which in turn leads to them coming to harm. Because all medical practitioners owe their patients a duty of care, the institution that they work for could be held liable for the patient’s injuries, if they are found to have harmed a patient due to medical negligence.
To successfully recover a walk-in centre medical negligence claim payout or hospital negligence claim payout, you or your solicitor will have to provide evidence to prove the following:
- That the medical facility and/or medical practitioner owed you a duty of care
- That the medical practitioner treating you breached their duty of care
- And as a result, you suffered an illness or injury or your existing medical condition became worse.
If you make a walk-in centre medical negligence claim, your case could be made against the NHS Trust that manages the walk-in centre or a private company that operates certain services in the clinic.
If you have legitimate grounds to claim compensation for injuries caused by medical malpractice we can provide you with a medical negligence lawyer, who can negotiate on your behalf with the defendant to get you the best possible compensation settlement. Call us today to begin your claim or read on to learn more.
Medical Conditions which Could Be Treated In A Walk-In Clinic
People with these minor illnesses or injuries may go to an NHS walk-in centre for treatment:
- Stomach problems such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Cuts, lacerations or wounds.
- Ongoing care for wounds such as redressing wounds or removing stitches.
- Blood pressure checks.
- Burns, stings, rashes and animal bites.
- Emergency contraception.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, walk-in test centres have opened up where members of the public can get an NHS walk-in centre covid test. Some centres require a prior appointment.
How To Find An NHS Walk-In Centre In Your Area?
The NHS website has a service finder, where you can find contact details for NHS services near you. You can find an NHS walk-in centre near you by using this online search tool.
Can Anyone Use An NHS Walk-In Centre?
Anyone who needs to can use an NHS walk-in centre, even if they are not registered with a GP. This is with the exception of children under 1 year of age. However, not all medical conditions can be treated at an NHS walk-in centre.
These medical conditions cannot be treated at an NHS walk-in centre:
- Getting a doctor’s certificate for an injury or illness
- A serious injury caused by a road traffic accident
- Repeat prescriptions for medication in relation to chronic illnesses or diseases
- Cases of a severe allergic reaction
- Pregnancy-related conditions
- Traumatic head injuries involving loss of consciousness
- Emergency medical treatment after an operation
- Treatment for drug overdoses, or treatment for people who have accidentally drunk chemicals
For the above, you will either need to attend your local A&E department or may need an appointment with your GP to get medical treatment. If the person is critically injured or their life is at risk, dial 999 for an ambulance immediately.
An urgent care centre can be visited when the patient is suffering from an injury or illness that is serious but not life-threatening. Injuries such as a suspected broken bone or fracture, limb injuries, and skin injuries or rashes, amongst others can be treated at an urgent care centre. This NHS guide to urgent care centres has a complete list of the types of injuries that can be treated there.
NHS Walk-In Centre Complaints Guide
Is it worth complaining about the NHS if you experience walk-in clinic negligence or are unhappy with the service you receive? Yes, you should notify the NHS of your complaint so it can be rectified.
It’s recommended that you direct your complaint at the relevant NHS body, such as NHS England or Wales.
The NHS Ombudsman makes final decisions on complaints to the NHS which have not yet been resolved.
Common Clinical Errors Which Could Happen In An NHS Walk-In Centre
NHS nurses and doctors are very dedicated to their job, often working under immense pressure. Unfortunately, errors can happen due to understaffing, inadequate training or inadequate monitoring.
Here are some examples of walk-in clinic negligence that patients could experience at an NHS walk-in centre.
Misdiagnosis Errors
It’s possible for a medical practitioner to misdiagnose a patient’s injuries or illness. As a result, the patient’s condition goes untreated, which may lead it to worsen over time, or the patient receives the wrong medical treatment which could have an adverse effect.
Medical misdiagnosis can also result in a failure to refer. If a doctor or nurse does not recognise signs of a serious condition and refer you to a specialist at a hospital, this can result in your condition becoming worse. This could happen with the likes of cancers.
Poor Medical Advice
Another type of walk-in centre clinical negligence that can affect patients is poor medical advice. For example, if a doctor or nurse gives a patient incorrect instructions about how to care for a skin infection, this could result in the infection getting worse.
Needlestick Injuries
A needlestick injury can be when a patient is accidentally stabbed by a needle or injected with a needle that has been used on another patient, which can transmit infections. Thankfully these sorts of injuries are very rare.
If you have been harmed by any type of walk-in centre medical negligence please call Legal Expert today to speak to a claims advisor. If we can see that you are owed compensation we will assign a medical negligence solicitor to work on your compensation claim.
NHS Walk-In Centre Minor Injuries
If you go to a walk-in centre because of a wound or a laceration and the injury is not treated correctly, this could result in the wound becoming infected, leading to further complications. In addition, if you have a laceration which is not stitched properly, this could make the scarring worse.
It’s possible that some people may also use walk-in centres for the ongoing treatment of wounds. For example, an injured person may visit an NHS walk-in centre to have a dressing changed or stitches removed. If this is not done correctly, this could be a form of walk-in centre clinical negligence, which might lead to an infection or scarring.
Walk-In Centre And Clinic Acquired Infections
Clinic acquired infections, also known as Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI), are infections that a patient picks up in a medical setting, such as a hospital or a walk-in centre.
Examples of Healthcare Associated Infections can include MRSA, Clostridium difficile and Norovirus. Infections can be spread by poor standards of hygiene, unsanitary conditions and not following correct procedures. If you have suffered an HCAI at a walk-in centre due to walk-in clinic negligence, call Legal Expert today to enquire about claiming compensation.
If you believe you contracted covid-19 at an NHS walk-in centre because of clinical negligence (for example the doctor or nurse was not wearing PPE), you may be eligible to make an NHS walk-in centre Covid-19 negligence claim if you can prove that it was at the centre you contracted the illness.
Types Of Medical Negligence By A Walk-In Centre You Could Claim For
If you wish to seek a medical negligence payout in the UK, you may be interested to know that there are different types of medical negligence. They apply to hospital negligence cases, doctor’s negligence, GP surgery negligence, and walk-in centre medical negligence. These four categories of medical negligence are as follows:
- Vicarious liability: This is when a medical negligence claim is made against the organisation that manages the medical practitioner who performed the negligent action. This means that you would make a claim against the NHS Trust that operated the walk-in centre, rather than the nurse or doctor who treated you. Or another organisation may be at fault. For example, if your injuries were caused by faulty medical equipment, your claim may be against the company that made the equipment.
- Contributory negligence: This is when both the patient and the medical practitioner contributed to the patient’s injuries. For example, the patient may not have fully disclosed their medical history, such as past procedures or allergies. A court will often apportion blame and the patient will be able to claim a percentage of what compensation they would have been eligible to claim, which is proportionate to the rate the medical practitioner is judged to be liable.
- Gross negligence: This is when the medical practitioner showed a disregard for their role. For example, the doctor was drunk or under the influence of illegal drugs which led to them making a gross medical error. As a result of gross negligence, the doctor will often have their license revoked.
Duty Of Care Owed By Walk-In Clinic Nursing Staff And Doctors
According to the National Health Service Act 2006, GPs owe their patients a duty of care. Other medical practitioners such as nurses also owe a duty of care towards their patients. What does this mean?
First of all, the nurse or doctor must have the necessary skills and qualifications to work in that capacity. Similarly, they must perform to the best of their ability at all times and provide patients with an adequate standard of care. If they breach this duty of care, they or the NHS trust that employs them could be held liable for their patients’ injuries.
Top Private Providers Of Walk-In Centres
There are a number of private providers of walk-in centres to the NHS. These are some of the private sector providers.
- Care UK
- Virgin Care
- Malling Health
- The Practice
- The Hurley Group
- Primecare
- Bondcare Medical Services
- Danum Medical Services
- DMC Healthcare
- GTD Primary Care
- Local Care Direct
- One Medicare
NHS Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence Compensation Calculator
If you receive a walk-in centre or hospital negligence claims payout your compensation package could include general damages, which is compensation to account for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity that your injuries caused you.
You can also claim special damages, which will reimburse you for any expenses incurred due to your injuries such as travel expenses, medical expenses, care expenses and loss of income. In the sad circumstances that you become disabled due to your accident, you can claim funds to pay for home and car adaptations and mobility equipment and any future financial hardship your injuries may cause.
If you suffered an illness or injury because of walk-in centre medical negligence, you can use the table below to estimate how much compensation you may be able to claim in general damages.
The table is based on the Judicial College Guidelines. We have chosen to include this instead of a medical negligence compensation calculator, which may not always be accurate.
| Body Part Affected | Possible Settlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digestive System | £6,190 – £11,820 | Wounds which penetrate and damage the digestive system. |
| Kidneys (C) | £28,880 to £42,110 | Where one kidney is functionally lost but the other is undamaged. |
| Bowels (D) | £41,850 to £65,440 | Abdominals injuries which impair the function of the bowels. There may be scarring left and restricted diets after. |
| Bladder (C) | £60,050 to £75,010 | Serious loss of control as well as incontinence and pain. |
| Spleen (B) | £4,080 to £8,110 | Risk of infection or disorder but at a minimal level. |
| Other Pain Disorders – Severe | £39,530 to £59,110 | Symptoms are severe or significant and are also on-going. |
| Male Reproductive System – Impotence | In the region of £139,210 | Total Impotence and loss of sexual function |
| Female Reproductive System | £31,950 to £95,850 | Infertility caused by misdiagnosis / failure to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy resulting in complications. |
| Female Reproductive System | £3,180 to £19,170 | Where there is a delay in diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy but which does not result in infertility. |
Medical negligence cases can be worth a lot of money, but this is only for very severe injuries. Of course, every claim is different. If you call Legal Expert’s claims helpline, we can estimate how much compensation you could be awarded for your injuries.
No Win No Fee Walk-In Centre Medical Negligence
If you have suffered as a result of clinical negligence at an NHS walk-in centre, we can offer you the option to have your claim handled as a No Win No Fee case.
This means you will only have to pay your solicitors fee (known as a success fee) if your solicitor wins your claim. The small fee will be deducted from your walk-in centre negligence compensation package at a capped rate, making a No Win No Fee claim the more affordable way to claim for many of our clients.
If your claim doesn’t succeed, you will not have to pay your solicitor a penny. Another benefit of making a claim in this way is that you won’t have to pay any fees upfront or during the claim either.
You can read our online guide to making a No Win No Fee claim to learn more.
We’re Here To Listen
If you think you are eligible to claim compensation for injuries you suffered at an NHS walk-in centre, call Legal Expert today to speak to an advisor. Our solicitors have years of experience handling claims for compensation. They will make sure that your claim is valued accurately and will push to make sure you receive the optimum amount of compensation you could be owed.
To begin your walk-in centre clinical negligence claim:
- Call us today on 0800 073 8804.
- Use our live chat popup, bottom right, or;
- Alternatively, use our compensation claims form to reach us.
Need More Help
We hope you found this guide to claiming compensation for NHS walk-in centre medical negligence helpful. Here are some other Legal Expert guides you may find helpful.
Clinical And Medical Negligence
How To Report A Negligent Doctor
How Much Can I Claim For Misdiagnosis Of Cancer
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Edited by Billing
