GP Negligence Claims

If your GP failed to diagnose, treat or refer you properly, and you need clear legal advice about a claim, our solicitors, with over 22 years of experience in clinical negligence claims in England and Wales, can help.

Last reviewed: July 2026

A GP negligence claim compensates a patient for harm caused when a general practitioner’s care fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent GP. In England and Wales, this includes a missed or delayed diagnosis, an incorrect prescription, a failure to refer a patient to hospital, and a failure to act on test results or symptoms that warranted further investigation. GPs are usually the first point of contact with the health system, and an error at that stage can delay treatment for months before the correct diagnosis is finally reached elsewhere. We understand how frustrating and frightening it is to discover that a trusted GP missed something that should have been caught.

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. Our reviews average 4.95 out of 5 based on over 1,200 reviews.

What does our GP negligence service cover?

GP negligence claims arise from consultations, prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up care that fell short of an acceptable standard. Our team advises and acts on the following matters:

Misdiagnosis claims, where a GP diagnosed the wrong condition or failed to diagnose a condition that a competent GP would have identified.
Failure to refer claims, where symptoms warranted an urgent or routine hospital referral that was not made within a reasonable timeframe.
Prescribing error claims, including incorrect medication, incorrect dosage, and a failure to check for dangerous drug interactions.
Failure to act on test results, where blood tests, scans or other investigations showed findings that were not followed up appropriately.
Failure to examine claims, where a GP did not carry out an examination that current clinical guidance would have required in the circumstances presented.
Missed contraindication claims, where a GP prescribed treatment without checking a patient’s known allergies or existing conditions.
Claims arising from telephone or remote consultations, where a condition requiring in-person assessment was managed inappropriately at a distance.

Why choose Law Lane for GP negligence claims?

A GP negligence claim depends on showing that the GP’s decision fell outside the range of decisions a responsible body of GPs would have made in the same circumstances. A GP is not negligent simply because a different clinician might have acted differently. Establishing negligence requires independent GP expert evidence addressing exactly what a competent GP would have done when presented with your symptoms. These are the type of complex cases that our Medical Negligence Solicitors specialise in.

We instruct GP experts with current clinical experience, so that the evidence reflects the guidance and pressures a working GP actually faces, rather than an unrealistic standard. Many GP negligence claims turn on subtle judgement calls made in a ten minute appointment, and proving negligence means reconstructing that decision carefully against the records and guidance available at the time. We take the time to build that picture properly rather than rushing to a conclusion.

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 GP 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 – GP Negligence Claims

Can I claim against my family’s GP practice?

Yes, you can bring a claim against your own GP practice, and doing so does not affect your right to continue receiving care from that practice or any other NHS service. GP practices carry professional indemnity insurance to cover exactly this type of claim, and the claim is handled entirely separately from your ongoing treatment. Many patients worry unnecessarily about this before instructing a solicitor.

What is the time limit for a GP negligence claim?

A claim must generally be brought within three years of the date of the negligent act, or the date you knew or reasonably should have known that your harm was linked to negligence, under section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980. Different rules apply for children and for adults who lack mental capacity, so it is worth seeking advice even if you believe the standard time limit has passed. We assess the applicable date at the outset of every enquiry.

What if my GP referred me but the hospital caused the delay?

Where a delay occurred after a proper GP referral, the claim will usually be directed at the hospital or NHS trust responsible for the delay rather than the GP. We review the full chain of care, including referral letters and hospital correspondence, to identify which party or parties bear responsibility. In some cases, more than one party shares responsibility, and a claim can be brought against each of them.

Do I need to have suffered permanent harm to bring a claim?

No, permanent harm is not required to bring a GP negligence claim, although the level of compensation reflects the severity and duration of the harm suffered. A claim can be brought for temporary but significant harm, such as prolonged pain, unnecessary treatment, or a period of untreated illness that caused real suffering. We assess whether a claim is viable based on the specific facts, not simply the outcome.

How is compensation calculated for a GP negligence claim?

Compensation is divided into general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, and special damages covering financial losses such as private treatment costs, lost earnings, and care costs. The value depends heavily on how the delay or error affected your prognosis, which is established through independent medical evidence. We instruct experts appropriate to your specific condition to quantify these losses accurately.

How much does an initial consultation cost?

We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation for GP negligence matters. At that meeting, we review your medical history, advise on the legal basis of a potential 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.