Delayed Treatment Claims

When you have a serious illness or injury, prompt treatment is vital. The sooner illnesses and injuries are diagnosed, the earlier effective treatment can be started to reduce the risk of irreversible complications and the need for more invasive treatment.

If you have a potentially life-threatening medical condition, such as cancer or heart disease, and your treatment is delayed, it can have a devastating impact and even put your life at risk.

If you or a loved has been negligently harmed due to treatment delays, you may be able to make a medical negligence compensation claim.

Our specialist team of medical negligence solicitors have a strong track record helping people affected by unnecessary delays to their treatment. They have helped many clients over the years, who have suffered serious physical and psychological harm, secure maximum compensation against those responsible for their delayed treatment.

All our clients receive the highest level of legal expertise combined with in-depth medical knowledge to ensure the best possible outcomes.

What is a delayed treatment claim?

If you have not received the appropriate medical treatment you need at the right time and your condition has worsened as a result, the care you received may be negligent and you may be able to make a delayed treatment compensation claim.

Compensation for treatment delays

Compensation for treatment delays is calculated differently depending on individual clients’ situations, but successful claims tend to include compensation for:

• Any pain and suffering caused by the delay
• Loss of earnings (including future loss of earnings) and pension
• Cost of private medical treatment
• Rehabilitation and specialist therapy expenses
• Any necessary home and vehicle adaptations including specialist equipment
• Costs of care and household assistance
• Travel expenses for hospital appointments

We know that thinking about appointing a medical negligence solicitor and making a delayed diagnosis compensation claim can feel daunting.

However, at Novum Law, we have a dedicated team with years of knowledge, experience, and expertise in claims just like yours. Our solicitors can advise you on anything you may need to know about the claims process and will be on hand to offer any additional support you need.

We are experts in delayed treatment and medical negligence compensation claims. Unlike many general practice law firms, we specialise in serious, life-changing illnesses and injuries. We can also help if you or a loved one have been severely affected by medical misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

If you think you may have a medical negligence claim, contact our specialist team for a free, ‘no strings attached’ chat.

Our aim is to offer you and your family expert legal support and ensure you are involved at every stage of your claim. We will never confuse you with legal or medical jargon and instead, offer clear, concise, straightforward advice and support.

Novum Law provides No Win No Fee funding which means you can make a medical negligence claim with complete peace of mind. There will be no financial risk to you or any hidden costs and in the highly unlikely event we are unsuccessful with your claim, you will not have anything to pay.  Click here to find out more information about No Win No Fee.

Book a free initial consultation with our expert delayed treatment solicitors

Contact our specialist solicitors if you or a loved one has been negligently harmed because you have had to wait too long for medical treatment or care.

We have regional offices in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon.

To book a free, no obligation chat with us call 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form.

Our expertise with delayed treatment claims

Getting access to effective medical treatment as soon as possible is essential if you are to make the best recovery possible.

Negligent delays to treatment can happen in accident and emergency departments, in GP surgeries, clinics or hospitals for many different reasons. A common example is administrative mistakes such as medical records being lost, test results not being followed up or failing to contact patients with diagnostic test results.

Treatment delays, particularly for serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and meningitis, can have dangerous consequences, and can even be fatal.

According to the independent medical journal The Lancet, any delay in cancer treatment has the real risk of patients’ tumours progressing from being curable (with near-normal life expectancy) to becoming incurable (with very reduced life expectancy).

Our specialist medical negligence solicitors have the expertise to secure compensation for you if your treatment has been unnecessarily delayed. Some examples of medical conditions that commonly involve delayed treatment include:

• Cancer
• Fractures and other orthopaedic injuries
• Appendicitis
• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Retina detachment
• Neurological disorders
• Brain tumour
• Encephalitis
• Bowel obstruction
• Strangulated hernia
• Thrombosis and blood clots

 

How making a delayed treatment compensation claim works

Free initial consultation to see if you may be owed delayed treatment compensation

To start your delayed treatment compensation claim, contact our specialist medical negligence team today on Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to arrange a free, no obligation consultation.

Your expert solicitor will guide you through the claims process from start to finish, explain our No Win No Fee funding and start your damages claim.

No Win No Fee delayed treatment claims

Making a delayed treatment claim with Novum Law could not be easier and thanks to our No Win No Fee funding, there is nothing to lose with no upfront or hidden costs. In the highly unlikely event your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay a penny. Click here to find out more about No Win No Fee.

Investigating your delayed treatment claim

If you believe you have suffered avoidable harm because you had to wait too long for essential medical treatment, it is vital to seek specialist medical negligence advice.

At Novum Law, we offer a completely free of charge consultation with an expert solicitor who will advise you if you have a strong case to make a delayed treatment claim.

Once we have taken on your claim, we will investigate exactly what happened to you and establish who is responsible for your negligent care. Our specialist team will gather important evidence, including medical notes, to build your case.

Our network of top, independent medical experts will also provide information  to calculate how much compensation you need for the pain and suffering caused by treatment delays, as well as any treatment (neurological treatment, cancer treatment, meningitis treatment, etc.), rehabilitation and care costs that are required now and in the future. Click here to find out more about how compensation is calculated.

Once we have all the evidence, our delayed treatment solicitors will help you make your claim. We may also be able to secure early interim payments so that you are more financially secure and can start paying for the treatment, care, and rehabilitation you need.

Time limits for delayed treatment claims

The general rule is that you have three years to make a delayed treatment compensation claim.  This means you have three years from the date you realised you have been harmed due to having to wait for medical treatment (sometimes referred to as the ‘date of knowledge’).

The three-year time limit does not apply if you are making a medical negligence claim on behalf of a child. However, once they are 18 years, they will then have three years to make a claim.

If you have tragically lost a loved one due to treatment delays, you have three years from the date they died to make a claim.

Medical negligence claims can be highly complex and there are other exceptions to the three year rule, so it is important to speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor without delay.

To learn more about time limits, take a look at our blog article which has further information.

Settling a delayed treatment claim out of court

Most delayed treatment claims do not actually go to court. A settlement can generally be reached without the need to issue court proceedings.

Our medical negligence solicitors will work hard to settle your claim out of court so that you receive the compensation you are entitled to as quickly as possible.

Taking your delayed treatment claim to court

Sometimes, an agreement cannot be reached with the defendant’s lawyers and we must issue formal court proceedings. However, this not necessarily mean you will have to go to court. In fact, most medical negligence claims settle before the official court hearing.

If your claim does not settle before the hearing, your specialist solicitor will talk you through the next steps and make sure you are involved and fully briefed as we take your claim forward.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about delayed treatment claims

What needs to be proved for a successful delayed treatment claim?

For your delayed treatment claim to be successful, our specialist medical negligence solicitors will need to be able to prove that:

• Any mistakes your healthcare provider made resulted in your care falling below medically acceptable standards.
• The mistakes made directly caused or contributed to delays in your medical treatment.
• The treatment delays have damaged your health, and this would not have happened if effective treatment had been provided at the right time.

Am I owed compensation for delayed treatment?

Yes, if your health condition has worsened due to unnecessary delays to your treatment, you may be able to make a compensation claim. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors have many years of experience on these types of claims and will gather the required evidence to build a strong case on your behalf.

Why do delayed treatment claims happen?

Some of the most common reasons for delayed treatment compensation claims are:

• Staff shortages in hospitals and clinics
• Lack of expertise of medical staff
• Failure of medical professionals to refer patients
• Failure to follow up test or scan results
• Administrative errors or failure of IT systems
• Disruption to healthcare services due to COVID-19

How much compensation will I receive for my delayed treatment claim?

No delayed treatment compensation claim is the same. Each case is different and involves varying levels of compensation.

The amount you are paid will depend on the extent of your pain and suffering and the specific details of your case. It will also depend on your personal circumstances.

Our expert solicitors will be able to advise you on how much compensation may be available based on your own individual circumstances. Contact Novum Law today for a free initial consultation on 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form.

Do you have a question we have not answered?

If you have any other questions, please visit our FAQs page. If you would rather speak directly to our friendly, professional team you can contact us on 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online form. We offer a free, initial no obligation chat and will be happy to answer any further questions you have about delayed treatment claims.

Book your free initial consultation with our medical negligence solicitors

If you believe you or a loved one may have a claim for a delayed diagnosis, our medical negligence solicitors in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon are here for you.

To begin your claim, contact us on 0345 357 9645 or online for a free, no obligation chat.