In August 2024, NHS Resolution announced a new Clinical Negligence Claims Agreement aimed at making the process of claiming for medical negligence quicker, more efficient, and fairer. Whether you're familiar with medical terminology or hearing about clinical negligence for the first time, it’s important to understand what this means for you as a patient, and how you can spot negligence in your care. This article will explain the changes and how to identify if medical negligence has occurred, with a focus on how Tomlin & Partners can help you claim the compensation you may be owed.

What Is Clinical Negligence?

Clinical negligence (also known as medical negligence) occurs when a healthcare professional provides substandard care that leads to injury, illness, or worsens an existing condition. Common examples include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and delayed treatment.

The consequences of clinical negligence can range from temporary inconvenience to life-altering injuries. Spotting these errors early is essential. If you suspect that your care wasn’t up to standard, this new claims process could help resolve your concerns faster.

NHS Resolution’s New Clinical Negligence Agreement 2024

The NHS Resolution’s new agreement aims to streamline how claims for clinical negligence are handled. The goal is to resolve cases more quickly, reducing stress for patients and lowering legal costs for both sides. The agreement encourages better communication between patients, healthcare providers, and solicitors, ensuring that genuine claims are recognised, and patients are compensated fairly.

Key Changes:

• Faster Settlements: Claims are expected to be resolved more efficiently, allowing patients to receive compensation sooner.
• Simplified Process: The new system should make it easier for patients to navigate the claims process without unnecessary delays.
• Encouraging Early Resolution: The agreement promotes early settlement discussions to prevent lengthy court cases.

How to Spot Medical Negligence

It can be difficult to determine if you’ve experienced medical negligence. Here are some red flags to watch out for:

• Delayed Diagnosis or Treatment: If a condition worsens because of delayed diagnosis or treatment, this could be negligence.
• Misdiagnosis: If you've been given an incorrect diagnosis that led to inappropriate treatment or worsened health.
• Surgical Mistakes: Errors during surgery, such as operating on the wrong area or leaving surgical instruments inside the body.
• Medication Errors: Being prescribed the wrong medication or dosage, causing harm or worsening your condition.
• Poor Follow-Up Care: If aftercare is lacking or insufficient after surgery or treatment, leading to complications.

If you believe any of these situations apply to you, it’s important to consult with medical negligence solicitors who specialise in assessing and pursuing claims.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Negligence?

If you think you've been the victim of medical negligence, it’s essential to act quickly. At Tomlin & Partners, our team of medical negligence solicitors can help investigate your case and guide you through the claims process.

We operate on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you won’t have to worry about paying legal fees if your claim isn’t successful. This is especially useful for those who want to seek compensation but are concerned about upfront costs.

Why Choose Tomlin & Partners?

At Tomlin & Partners, we understand that dealing with medical negligence is overwhelming, but we are here to make the process as straightforward as possible. Here’s how we can help:

• Expertise: Our Legal Director has years of experience in handling complex cases.
• No Win No Fee: We offer no win no fee medical negligence claims, ensuring you don’t face any financial risk when pursuing compensation.
• Local and Accessible: We are proud to provide accessible legal services across the UK.

Get In Touch

If you have concerns about the care you or a loved one has received, we encourage you to get in touch with Tomlin & Partners. We can help assess your situation, advise whether you have a claim, and explain how to proceed.

Don’t wait. The sooner you act, the more likely you are to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

To learn more about the new agreement, you can refer to the NHS Resolution website.