Kate Sweeney
Head of Clinical Negligence
View Profile
English
Call our Hospital Negligence specialists for free legal advice. We could deal with your Hospital Negligence claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Our Medical Negligence Solicitors could help you get compensation if you or a loved one suffered substandard care in an NHS or private hospital.
We understand that Hospital Negligence cases can be physically and mentally distressing. Our expert Solicitors combine extensive legal knowledge with a friendly, sensitive and sympathetic approach and will work to resolve your case as quickly as possible.
Our Hospital Negligence Solicitors have helped secure compensation amounts ranging from £8,000 to £12 million for our clients.
We offer a Free Claims Assessment by phone where we can let you know if we are able to help.
By providing No Win, No Fee arrangements, you can rest assured that you only have to pay legal fees if you win your case. Our Solicitors will explain how this works and organise After The Event Insurance (ATE), so you don't have to pay the other side's costs if your claim is unsuccessful.
Call us on 0808 239 6043 or request a callback and we will help you.
We're rated‘Excellent’We’re highly knowledgeable and experienced Medical Negligence Solicitors. Suffering an injury that wasn't your fault can be life-changing but getting in touch with us can help you start rebuilding your life.
You can trust that when you talk to our Hospital Negligence Solicitors, they will listen with sensitivity and compassion. We're members of the Law Society's Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) Solicitors referral panel.
Our experience and reputation mean we have developed connections with many agencies and support services that can help you and your family if your life has been turned upside down due to hospital negligence. We won't disappear when your claim ends; the long-term wellbeing of every one of our clients is vital to us.
Hospital negligence is when a patient receives substandard care from a healthcare professional in a hospital setting, which causes them injury or illness, or a worsening of an existing medical issue.
Hospital Negligence can leave lasting physical and psychological effects. Common examples include incorrect or delayed treatment, surgical errors, and misdiagnosis, all of which can happen in NHS and private hospitals.
In England and Wales, everybody has the right to an acceptable standard of hospital care. Medical professionals deal with many appointments, treatments and emergency visits, handling most of them without problems. But if something goes wrong, and you or a loved one suffers an injury or worsening of an existing condition, the consequences can be life changing.
Making a Hospital Negligence claim could help you start to recover. Our specialists could help you secure financial compensation, and if the NHS Trust admits responsibility early on, we can get interim payments to arrange the best support and rehabilitation available.
Hospital Negligence cases are becoming more common and can happen in any department. According to NHS Resolution's 2022-23 annual report, the NHS received 13,511 Medical Negligence claims over the year.
Yes, if you have suffered an injury due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional while you were in a hospital, you may have a compensation claim. Our Hospital Negligence Solicitors will swiftly tell you whether we can help and explain the entire process in plain English.
We go to hospital expecting to leave feeling better. But mistakes happen, and standards of care aren't always met. You could take legal action if you've been harmed by something a medical professional did or failed to do.
Your suffering could be immediately apparent or only noticeable over time. Whatever your situation, our Hospital Negligence Solicitors can help you understand whether you could claim compensation and will explain your options moving forward. Speak to our friendly team today for a Free Claims Assessment.
While compensation can't erase what happened, it could bring a sense of closure and help you enjoy the best quality of life possible in the future. By holding a hospital or person to account, making a successful claim could prevent similar situations from happening to other people.
Simpson Millar5 stars
I approached Simpson Millar to assist…
I approached Simpson Millar to assist with a complex medical negligence claim. They have been extremely thorough in the case and provided clear advice and guidance throughout the claim process. Thei...
Katie
Simpson MillarEasy to work with
Easy to work with, they help us understand and all this becomes very clear for us.
Master Eduard Tipa
Simpson MillarExcellent service
Excellent service, such a help in getting Justice for my Sister. In such trying times. Especially our solicitor Caprice Haughton, who kept us updated every step of the way.
Shirley Vasey
Simpson MillarGeorgina and the team at Simpson Miller…
Georgina and the team at Simpson Miller dealt with our negligence case efficiently, professionally and most of all, (important to us) with empathy. From the onset communication was clear and to the po...
Lynn Henry
Simpson MillarLizzie
Lizzie was kind understanding professional and allways keept me well informed I can't fault the service she gave me. And can't thank her enough.
Deborah Regan
Simpson MillarHighly Recommended!
Simon was great to work with, all my queries were responded to quickly and I was kept up to date throughout the whole process. Simon gave advice and recommendations on how to proceed with things which...
Lucy E
Simpson MillarHappy with outcome - Sanah was great
Overall we are happy with the outcome of our claim after a long hard 2.5 year battle. We unfortunately had to change solicitors a number of times during our 2 and a half year case which made us feel...
Greg Clayton
You can make Hospital Negligence claims against private healthcare providers and NHS hospitals. All doctors registered with the General Medical Council have a duty of care to you and must meet certain professional standards, no matter who they work for.
Hospital negligence claims are typically complex, stressful, and require knowing lots of legal and medical terms and jargon. Getting an NHS Trust to admit liability for negligence can also be challenging. So, although you could technically bring a hospital negligence claim without a Solicitor, you will not get the same amount of compensation that an experienced legal professional could obtain.
By relying on us to manage your claim, you can focus on getting better. You can trust that we'll take care of everything to do with your claim and never give up until we get you the highest amount of compensation possible.
Proving Hospital Negligence can be difficult. You'll need to show that your treatment fell below acceptable medical standards and directly caused your injury or illness.
Even if you're not sure if you have a claim, it's best to speak to our legal specialists as soon as possible. We offer a Free Claims Assessment where we'll learn more about your situation and tell you if we think you have grounds to make a claim.
If we do, we'll talk you through your options and next steps. This initial chat comes with no cost or obligation. It's totally up to you whether you take your case further.
A typical hospital negligence claim runs as follows:
Initial consultation meeting – we will listen to what has happened to you and let you know if we can help. We'll also explain how No Win, No Fee compensation claims work.
Gather evidence and statements – our team will take a statement from you and any other witnesses, such as a nurse or doctor who was present. We'll also organise for you to be assessed by an independent healthcare professional and get expert witness reports and prognosis.
Pre-action Protocol steps – we’ll follow the steps set out in the Pre-action Protocol for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes. This includes writing a formal letter to the NHS Trust stating the details of your claim.
Settlement – Over 80% of claims are settled out of court. Our Solicitors have the expertise and experience to negotiate effectively with NHS Resolution to get the compensation our clients are entitled to. But if we have to go to court, you can be confident that we’ll be prepared and support you every step of the way.
After-care – we’ll continue to be available for ongoing support. If you require a Personal Injury Trust, you’ll be passed into the care of our Court of Protection team who will manage your settlement with sensitivity, expertise, and compassion. We’ll also continue to support you with accessing rehabilitation.
It depends on how complex your Hospital Negligence claim is.
If it's obvious what happened and the hospital or NHS Trust admits responsibility, known as liability, your case could be completed within two years. But if the evidence is difficult to get or the hospital disputes your claim, the process could take longer.
If the hospital admits responsibility, you could get interim payments to ease financial pressure while your case is ongoing. We can give you a better estimate of how long everything could take once we learn more about your case, so speak to our team today.
Our Solicitors will gather evidence, including a statement from you and any other witnesses, to prove on the balance of probabilities that your injury was caused by a healthcare professional's negligent actions or lack of action.
You may have to have an independent medical assessment, and we'll instruct expert witnesses to help support your claim and provide a prognosis which assists the Court in calculating how much compensation to award.
Compensation for Hospital Negligence can help you rebuild your life by easing financial pressure and allowing you access to care you may need in the future. If the NHS Trust or private hospital admits responsibility, we'll ask for an interim payment. They are sums of compensation paid upfront so you can pay for rehabilitation, treatment or any immediate costs you're facing.
Medical negligence compensation awards are split into two categories:
You don't need to worry about your compensation coming directly from a hospital's budget. Whether you claim against an NHS or private hospital, the costs will be covered as part of their indemnity scheme.
NHS Resolution handles NHS Hospital Negligence claims. Private hospitals will have their own liability insurance to cover negligence claims.
At Simpson Millar, we take many Hospital Negligence claims on a No Win, No Fee basis. It means you can make a claim without worrying about the financial risk if it's not a success.
You won’t pay any money upfront for your legal fees but you may have to pay for expenses (known as disbursements) like Court fees or medical expert fees. But these expenses would be covered by an insurance product called After the Event (ATE) Insurance should your claim be unsuccessful. ATE Insurance will also pay the other side’s legal costs if you lose your case. We will organise ATE Insurance on your behalf. This completely removes any financial risk of bringing a Hospital Negligence Claim.
The only time you might need to pay anything is when your claim is settled in your favour. Some of the legal costs are met by the other side. But the rest are covered from the compensation you receive. And that amount will always be a share of your settlement we agree in advance.
You'll usually have up to three years from when a hospital error happened, or you first became aware of it.
There are some notable exceptions when claiming on behalf of others.
Whatever your situation, it's best to speak to our legal experts as soon as possible.
Hospital Negligence cases can be complex and getting early legal advice improves the chances of collecting the accurate evidence we need to make your claim successful.
While medical errors are rarely intentional, Hospital Negligence can have serious consequences. If you need legal support as a result, there are several good reasons to get in touch with our team.
Our specialist Hospital Negligence Solicitors have the right experience and expertise in this area to calculate and secure the compensation you deserve. Learn more about our experts
We have a broad network of other professionals to lean on. We can organise the best possible treatment and care for your situation, as well as connect you with financial advisors for help managing your compensation
Hospital Negligence claims can be stressful, but we’ll take the pressure off while keeping you updated every step of the way. We’ll always speak to you in clear, easy to understand language
You can trust the quality of our services. We’re members of both the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Accreditation scheme and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) Clinical Negligence panel and this shows our expertise as there is a strict admissions process to access these accreditations.
Unfortunately, we cannot assist with medical negligence claims if the incident took place abroad.
It can be difficult to tell if your symptoms or condition were caused by negligence. Our medical negligence team have the expertise and experience to identify if negligence is the cause of your suffering. You can be confident that we, with the help of healthcare professionals we trust, can quickly tell if you have a claim.
One of the best ways to know if a Hospital Negligence Solicitor is right for you is to think about how well they listened to your story. An excellent and experienced Solicitor knows that you are likely to be traumatised by what you have suffered and will listen with respect and sensitivity. They will also explain things to you in plain English, focus on getting you the treatment and support you need to recover, and bring a compensation claim.
Absolutely not. All healthcare professionals have a duty to treat everyone with the same high standard of care and attention.
In certain situations, you can bring a compensation claim on behalf of loved ones, including:
If we can help you on a No Win, No Fee basis then we take on all your compensation claim's risk. We will also take as much stress off your shoulders as possible. We want you to focus on making a full recovery.
If your claim fails, we will explain your options, such as appealing the decision.
You must bring a Hospital Negligence claim within three years of the negligence happening or you becoming aware you suffered an injury caused by medical negligence.
Hospital-acquired infections are those that people pick up in hospitals and don't have before going in. They can be caused or spread by a failure to clean hospital equipment properly, and severe cases, such as sepsis, can be life-threatening.
Although Hospital Negligence cases can take time to resolve, you can expect full support from our team at all times. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness and the compassion and care we give all our clients. Whatever your concerns or questions, we will answer them quickly and in plain English.
Medical experts are crucial when proving hospital negligence. After inspecting your hospital records and in some instances personally examining you, they can help the Court decide whether negligence caused your injury. A medical expert can also comment on your overall prognosis which helps the Court decide how much compensation to award.
Yes, you can change Solicitors at any time during the claims process. We will advise you how to do this and ask your former Solicitors for all the information relating to the claim which they must hand over.
The hospital and our Solicitors must follow data protection rules. Article 9(1) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations covers the use of special categories of data, including medical and health information. It states your medical data can only be processed with your full consent or because it must be revealed in a legal claim.
If you have any concerns about the use of your personal information, you can talk to us, and we will do everything we can to ease your worries.
Hospital negligence can have devastating, lifechanging consequences. It is vital that you get the specialist treatment, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, counselling, legal help, and financial advice you need. We’ll put you in touch with specialists who can assist you with all aspects of your recovery.
Hospital negligence happens when a healthcare professional gives treatment that falls below the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm or injury to you, the patient. Although policies and procedures may set out how treatment should be given, if the healthcare professional is negligent, or the policies and procedures themselves breach the duty of care a hospital must provide to its patients, you may have a compensation claim
Signing a consent form means you are consenting to the treatment being suggested by a healthcare professional. This could be in the form of surgery or taking a certain medicine. But the healthcare professional must not be negligent when giving the treatment. The fact you have signed a consent form makes no difference to your right to claim.
If we break a bone in our body, we expect it to be diagnosed and treated when we visit Accident & Emergency. Missed fractures are not uncommon though, leading to unnecessarily prolonged pain and sometimes further complications.
If your brain tumour was incorrectly diagnosed by a healthcare practitioner as something else, you may be entitled to medical negligence compensation.
If you’re unhappy with the treatment you’ve received from the NHS, you can complain to the healthcare provider that treated you, such as a GP practice or hospital.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0808 239 6043
