Hospital Negligence Claims

If you or a family member were harmed by substandard care during a hospital stay, and you need clear, compassionate, expert legal advice about making a compensation claim, our solicitors, with over 22 years of experience in clinical negligence claims in England and Wales, can help.

Last reviewed: July 2026

A hospital negligence claim compensates a patient for harm caused when hospital care, whether medical, nursing, or administrative, fell below the standard a reasonably competent hospital team should have provided. In England and Wales

Hospital negligence often involves several clinicians and departments, which can make it harder for a patient or family to identify exactly where care went wrong. We take the time to reconstruct the full sequence of events, because families deserve a clear answer, not a partial one.

Law Lane Solicitors advises clients and their families in clinical and medical negligence claims from our offices in Stratford, High Holborn, and Croydon. Founded in 2015, we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and hold a Law Society of England and Wales accreditation in Personal Injury. Our commitment to getting the best results for our clients is evidenced by our average of 4.95 out of 5 based on over 1,200 reviews.

What does our hospital negligence service cover?

Hospital negligence claims arise from care given on wards, in accident and emergency departments, and across multiple specialties within a single admission.

Our team advises and acts on the following matters:

Ward monitoring failures, where a patient’s deteriorating condition was not recognised or acted upon promptly by nursing or medical staff.
Medication error claims, including incorrect drugs, incorrect doses and failures to check a patient’s allergies or existing prescriptions before administering treatment.
Hospital acquired infection claims, including MRSA, C. difficile and surgical site infections caused by inadequate hygiene or infection control.
Accident and emergency negligence claims, where a patient presenting with serious symptoms was discharged, misdiagnosed or not triaged appropriately.
Discharge failure claims, where a patient was sent home before it was safe to do so, or without adequate follow-up arrangements.
Communication failure claims, where results, allergies or care plans were not passed between departments or shifts, leading to avoidable harm.
Pressure sore and neglect claims, where a failure to reposition or monitor a vulnerable patient caused avoidable tissue damage.

Why choose Law Lane for hospital negligence claims?

Hospital negligence claims usually involve care given by several different staff members over the course of an admission, and identifying the point at which care fell below standard requires a careful review of nursing notes, medical records, drug charts and observation charts side by side. It is common for the harm to result from a combination of smaller failures rather than one obvious error, which makes early and thorough investigation essential.

We instruct independent nursing and medical experts appropriate to the specialty involved in your care, testing whether the care given accorded with practice accepted as proper by a responsible body of medical or nursing opinion. Where the case concerns a failure to warn a patient about material risks before treatment, we also apply the informed consent principle that a doctor must take reasonable care to ensure a patient understands material risks and reasonable alternatives before agreeing to treatment.

We know how devastating being injured through hospital negligence can be, not least because a hospital is supposed to be a safe place, designed to protect and heal you. Our team includes a former GP and former nurse acting as in-house medical consultants, bringing direct clinical knowledge to the assessment and management of claims. This dual medical/legal expertise means we can spend more time evaluating the merits of a medical negligence case and take on highly complex matters that other law firms often must refuse due to lack of in-house expertise.

Get in touch

Our clinical negligence team is ready to advise you and your family on your claim today. We understand the shock and distress in injury caused by hospital staff negligence can cause, and we act with the urgency and sensitivity that these cases deserve. Please contact us on 020 7870 4870 or email: clinicalnegligence@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk. You can also attend our free, no-obligation 30 minute consultation, held every Thursday between 11am and 1pm.

Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.

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Frequently Asked Questions – Hospital Negligence Claims

Can I make a claim against an NHS hospital and a private hospital?

Yes, claims can be brought against both NHS and private hospitals, since both owe the same legal duty of care to patients, although the process for funding and insurance differs between them. NHS claims are usually handled by NHS Resolution on behalf of the trust, while private hospital claims are typically handled by the hospital’s own insurer or indemnity provider. We advise on the correct defendant and process in either case.

What should I do if I am still receiving treatment from the hospital I want to claim against?

You can bring a claim against a hospital while continuing to receive treatment there, and this does not affect the standard of care you are entitled to receive going forward. Hospitals are required to continue treating patients appropriately regardless of any ongoing legal claim. We can advise separately if you have any concerns about your ongoing care while a claim proceeds.

How long do I have to bring a hospital negligence claim?

A claim must generally be brought within three years of the negligent treatment or the date you knew, or reasonably should have known, that your harm was linked to it, under section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980. Longer periods apply for children and for adults who lack the mental capacity to bring a claim themselves. We assess the applicable time limit at the outset of every enquiry.

What compensation can I claim after a hospital negligence incident?

Compensation covers general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, together with special damages for financial losses including private treatment, lost earnings, care costs and any adaptations you now need. Where an infection or complication extended your recovery, compensation also reflects that additional period of suffering. We work with medical and financial experts to quantify every head of loss in your claim.

Will I need to give evidence in court?

No, most hospital negligence claims settle without a trial, and the majority resolve through negotiation once liability and the medical evidence are established. Where a case does proceed to trial, we prepare you fully and our advocates present the evidence, so your direct involvement is limited. We will support and inform you at every stage, so you will never be left wondering what stage your hospital negligence compensation claim is at.

How much does an initial consultation cost?

We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation for hospital negligence matters. At that meeting, we review your medical history, advise on the legal basis for a claim and explain funding options, including conditional fee agreements.

You can also attend our free, no-obligation 30 minute consultation, held every Thursday between 11am and 1pm. Please contact us on 020 7870 4870 or email clinicalnegligence@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk to arrange this.