GP negligence is when you receive medical care from your GP that is below the standard any other medical professional would provide in similar circumstances. Your GP owes you a duty of care; if they breach that duty of care, it could be GP negligence. 

You could suffer GP negligence when they fail to refer you for further tests, misdiagnose a condition or make an error with your prescription. Medical negligence by a GP can affect your life today and in the future. You could see a condition worsen, suffer unnecessary pain and be affected for life after GP negligence. 

A medical negligence compensation claim* can seek damages if you suffer while under the care of any medical professional, such as your GP. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors in Dublin have the expertise and that vital experience in all types of medical negligence injury claims*. We will be with you throughout the process of your GP negligence claim* to get you the compensation you deserve.

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What is a GP negligence claim*?

A GP negligence claim* is when you seek damages for the effects on your health today and in the future after a breach of duty of care by a GP. Your GP is often the first person you turn to with a medical problem, and you trust them to give you their full attention and care. 

If the GP breaches that duty of care and your health suffers, you could have a GP negligence claim*. GP negligence can affect your health, and it can happen when you need your GP the most. 

According to a recent report over 50% of GP negligence claims* were for a delayed diagnosis or failure to refer for further tests. 25% of all GP negligence claims* involve a delayed diagnosis of cancer, where a delay can cost crucial time in starting vital treatment. 

The report shows that 15% of GP claims involve prescription errors, which could affect treatments, and around 10% of GP negligence claims involve malpractice with medical procedures such as stitches and minor, clinic-based surgery.

PBN Litigation Solicitors can help make your GP negligence claim* for compensation if you suffer a breach of duty of care by a GP.

Start your medical negligence case today by contacting PBN solicitors.

PBN solicitors have that experience and understanding to be with you every step along the way of a medical negligence compensation claim*.

Common claims for GP Negligence

Common claims for GP negligence range from a misdiagnosis of cancer to errors in prescribing medication and a failure to refer a patient for further testing. You trust and rely on your GP for their medical care and advice. If they breach that duty of care you may have a claim for GP negligence. 

GP negligence can affect your life and you claim for the effects today and in the future. 

Some common claims for GP negligence are:

  • GP misdiagnosis of cancer claim
  • GP failure to refer for further tests claim
  • GP errors with a prescription claim
  • GP missed diagnosis of a condition claim
  • GP delayed diagnosis of a condition claim
  • GP failure to keep accurate medical records claim

GP misdiagnosis of cancer claim

A GP misdiagnosis of cancer claim is a very common claim for GP negligence in Ireland. The effects on the patient of a GP misdiagnosis of cancer can affect their ability to fight the disease and to start early treatment before the cancer spreads. 

Types of cancer misdiagnosis by a GP:

  • Misdiagnosis of stomach cancer as digestion issues
  • Misdiagnosis of skin cancer as eczema
  • Misdiagnosis of liver cancer as a bowel problem

If you suffer a misdiagnosis of cancer by a GP, you could see the cancer spreading, need invasive surgery, and you may miss valuable treatment time at the beginning of your fight with cancer when you are still healthy. 

You may have a GP negligence claim* if they misdiagnose your cancer as another condition.

GP failure to refer for further tests claim

A GP failure to refer for further tests claim can happen after you suffer a delay in diagnosis and in beginning treatment for your condition. Your GP should always refer you for further tests to avoid a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of many conditions. 

Types of failure to refer for further tests claims:

  • Failure to refer a patient for tests for cancer when showing symptoms
  • Failure to refer a patient for a cardiac stress test when suffering chest pains
  • Failure to refer for endoscopy when a patient has digestion issues

A failure to refer a patient for tests can cause unnecessary stress to the patient as well as delaying the diagnosis of a condition and in receiving the correct course of treatment.

GP errors with a prescription claim

A GP errors with a prescription claim is when the GP fails to prescribe the correct medication or correct dose of a medication to a patient in the surgery. Prescription errors can cause many issues, and the GP should be very careful when prescribing medications. 

Types of GP errors with a prescription:

  • Prescribing a medication that interacts with your existing medications
  • Failing to prescribe a medication as prescribed by the consultant
  • Giving incorrect dose instructions with the medication

An error with a prescription can affect your treatment and you may have a GP negligence claim for compensation if your GP is negligent with your medications.

GP missed diagnosis of a condition claim

A GP missed diagnosis of a condition claim is when the GP fails to diagnose your illness, and the missed diagnosis causes the condition to worsen until it is diagnosed. A missed diagnosis can delay treatment and can even be fatal in some cases. 

Types of GP missed diagnosis of a condition:

  • GP misses the signs of your cardiac problems
  • GP does not diagnose diabetes
  • GP missed a diagnosis of cancer when you have symptoms

A GP negligence claim* can seek compensation when your GP misses the diagnosis of your health issues.

GP delayed diagnosis of a condition claim

A GP delayed diagnosis of a condition can happen when they fail to diagnose a health issue when you first start showing symptoms. The delay in diagnosis can slow a correct diagnosis, and you could suffer until a diagnosis is made. 

Types of GP delayed diagnosis of a condition claim:

  • Delayed diagnosis of appendicitis by a GP leads to emergency surgery
  • Delayed diagnosis of a broken bone until hospital admission
  • Delayed diagnosis of cardiac pain until a patient has a heart attack

A delayed diagnosis costs time, and you may have a GP negligence claim* if it happens to you.

GP failure to keep accurate medical records claim

A GP failure to keep accurate medical records claim can have many effects on the patients in the surgery, not least the lack of a clear medical history. The GP is obliged to keep and safely store medical records, and they should be available when needed. 

Types of GP failure to keep accurate medical records problems:

  • Issues with medications missing from a patient’s medical records
  • Lack of data protection protocols in the GP surgery
  • An accurate medical history is missing for the patient

Patient medical records must be kept safe and updated after every GP appointment. A medical negligence claim for compensation may happen when the GP fails to keep accurate medical records. 

GP negligence can delay treatment, allow a condition to worsen, and, in some cases, may put a patient’s life in danger. 

PBN Litigation solicitors can look at your case and see if you have a valid GP negligence claim* for compensation.

GP Negligence Compensation

GP negligence compensation awards in Ireland differ depending on the injury or injuries you suffer, such as the consequences of a delayed cancer diagnosis or a prescription error. 

GP negligence could cause you to suffer unnecessary pain and emotional stress. You could spend time in hospital and be unable to work or look after family members in your care. 

There is not one fixed compensation award for any medical negligence claim*, which is very true with GP negligence claims*. A medical negligence solicitor can only give you an idea of what is possible when you suffer due to a breach of care by a GP and what you can claim* for its effects on you. 

Every compensation claim* is different. You may experience pain and suffering due to a missed diagnosis of a broken ankle, which could affect your ability to work, travel, and provide for your family. 

With your GP negligence claim*, you seek damages for the effect of the injury or injuries due to the medical negligence by a GP on you today and your future life. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors can explain how the process works and how your GP negligence claim* will be a combination of two types of damages.

Damages in a GP negligence claim*

Damages in a GP negligence claim* are a combination of: 

  • General Damages in a GP Negligence Claim*
  • Special Damages in a GP Negligence Claim*

The two types of damages take into consideration the effects of the negligence by your GP on your life today and its impact on your future.

General Damages in a GP Negligence Claim*

General Damages in a GP negligence claim* are compensation for the pain and suffering you experience due to errors by the GP when diagnosing a condition or when they fail to refer you for further tests and treatment. 

For example, you may be able to claim* General Damages for the delays in your treatment when they make an error with a prescription or the pain from a missed diagnosis of appendicitis. 

General Damages may be claimed in any medical negligence case where the injuries cause pain and inconvenience and affect your ability to exercise, drive, play sports and other activities.  

Special Damages in a GP Negligence Claim*

Special Damages in a GP negligence claim* are for the financial effects on your life due to the medical negligence by the GP, such as when you cannot work and provide for the family when recovering from a misdiagnosis of cancer or a delayed diagnosis of a severe infection. 

You could be off work for a time or be unable to return to similar work with the same salary. 

With Special Damages you claim* for:  

  • The loss of earnings
  • Care costs today and in the future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, medical appointments, further treatment

Special Damages are for the financial effects of a loss of income when recovering from the GP negligence. For example, you can claim special damages if you can only take lesser-paid employment due to a delayed diagnosis of cardiac issues. 

You claim* Special Damages to offset the financial costs of the medical negligence so you will not be out of pocket due to the actions of others.  

Each person in a GP negligence claim* is different from another one. The financial effects may be heavier on you than on someone in a similar situation. If you have children, you may need to claim* for their care while you recover from a severe infection or deal with a cancer diagnosis. 

You may claim* for what is needed to maintain a similar quality of life as before the effects of the GP negligence on your life.  

Your PBN Litigation solicitor can guide you on what to expect in compensation and how to make your GP negligence claim*. 

Start your medical negligence case today by contacting PBN solicitors.

Who is eligible for compensation for GP negligence in Ireland?

You may be eligible for compensation for GP negligence in Ireland when a GP breaches their duty of care to you. 

You are the injured party, and if the medical professional’s negligence could be the cause of your injury, you can claim* for the effects of the injury on your life today and in the future. 

The compensation for GP negligence will help you get your life back on track and ensure you are not out of pocket due to the medical negligence. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors can make your claim* when you may be eligible for GP negligence compensation. 

Can I claim* on behalf of a loved one for GP negligence in Ireland?

Yes, you may claim* on behalf of a loved one for GP negligence. The financial dependents of a loved one who suffered due to a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis can make a claim* for compensation in the case of their death or mental or physical incapacity to make the claim*.  

Persons who can claim* compensation for GP negligence in Ireland can be:

  • The spouse of the person who suffered GP negligence
  • An adult dependent of the person who suffered the GP negligence
  • Family members who relied on the patient who suffered for care and financial support

Dependents may be able to claim* the cost of personal care for life, adaptations to the home and any ongoing medical treatments and therapy due to the GP negligence suffered by a loved one. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors can help with your claim* from day one. We can advise you who is eligible for compensation and be with you when making the GP negligence compensation claim*.  

Consequences of GP Negligence

The consequences of GP negligence range from becoming ill due to a prescription error to losing your medical records to the serious outcomes of a missed cancer diagnosis. 

Your GP owes you a duty of care, and part of that is to ensure they always give you full medical care. To make a missed diagnosis of cancer or missing the obvious signs of diabetes can affect a patient for life and could have long-term financial effects, too. 

Some consequences of GP negligence are:

  • Delays in receiving the correct treatment
  • Being on the wrong medication and suffering side-effects
  • Unnecessary suffering due to a missed diagnosis
  • Being off work due to a long-term illness
  • Spreading an infection among family and colleagues
  • Long stays in hospital
  • A cancer spreading
  • Increased stress of dealing with a condition
  • Taking too much or too little of a medication
  • Nerve damage due to failure to refer a patient for further tests
  • Broken bones not setting properly
  • Excessive scarring
  • Reproduction problems

If you suffer from one or more consequences of GP negligence, you could have a GP negligence claim for compensation.

How to make a claim for GP Negligence

There are a few steps to follow when you make a claim for GP negligence in Ireland. Making any medical negligence claim* may seem daunting, especially if you are taking on a large practice or your local, family GP you may know for years from being in their care. 

You may be worried about taking on your GP or a large medical practice, but with the help of a medical negligence solicitor, you can navigate your way through what could be a complex process.  

The steps to follow when making a GP negligence claim* in Ireland are:  

You should engage a medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible to further your GP negligence claim*. The team at PBN Litigation Solicitors can advise on your case and how it could proceed. 

With our no-obligation consultation, we can meet with you in confidence and advise you on the strengths of your case.  

To investigate your case, we will request an initial medical report from a UK Expert  to outline the effects of the GP negligence and any ongoing poor health issues. 

Updated reports with a final prognosis from other doctors may be taken up before your case is settled.  

We will help investigate your case by requesting all the medical notes and files, a report on what happened from the GP surgery and by seeking further independent medical expertise for their opinion.

Submission of the GP negligence claim* is the next step in the process. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors will compile all your medical evidence and reports from independent medical experts and see how it makes for a valid medical negligence claim*. 

When we have all the evidence needed, we will contact the GP and their insurers on your behalf and make the GP negligence claim*.

Dealing with the reply from the negligent party is usually the next step in your GP negligence case. 

The insurers will reply by letter either admitting the medical negligence, denying the medical negligence, or possibly admitting to some part but not all of it. 

Unfortunately, you may need to go to court if the GP denies all responsibility for the medical negligence or if parties cannot agree on an acceptable level of compensation for your injury.

Going to court may be the final step in resolving your medical negligence case. Your PBN Litigation medical negligence solicitor will continue with your case when court becomes the only option and advise you on how to approach it. 

We can issue the court proceedings and advise you along every step of a difficult process for you and the family.  

Court proceedings can be protracted, and you will need experience and expertise on your side when in the courtroom. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors can provide that much-needed experience if the time comes to go to court. 

In some cases, a claim* is settled on the steps of the court when the negligent party meets the person who suffered the GP negligence.   

How long do you have to make a claim for GP negligence?

You have two years to make a claim* for GP negligence in Ireland. If you are outside the time limit, you are very unlikely to be able to make a claim*. 

In a medical negligence claim* in Ireland, you must have all the paperwork in place and filed within the time limit. Your PBN Litigation Solicitor can help with the claim* process and give you a checklist for what is needed to file the compensation claim*. 

If a child suffers GP negligence, such as errors with a prescription or a failure to refer for further tests, the parent has until they turn 18 to make a medical negligence claim*. 

Once a child turns 18, they then have two years to make a GP negligence claim*, proving their parents did not make one on their behalf previously. 

You may make a claim* outside of the two-year limit only if the date of knowledge of injury allows it. The date of knowledge is the date you became aware the injury was due to GP negligence. 

When your GP makes an error with your medical care the consequences may not become apparent for a time. Some cases of GP negligence do not come to light until they are diagnosed years later by another medical professional. In such cases, your two-year limit to claim* may begin on the day of the diagnosis of GP negligence by the other medical professional. 

In all cases of medical negligence, the sooner you begin the claim* process, the better it will be for the case. It is preferable to write down what happened while it is fresh in your memory and while the medical evidence can clearly show the negligence during treatment. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors can look at the details of your claim* and get started on a valid GP negligence claim* within the time limits.  

Make a claim for GP Negligence Today

Make a claim* for GP negligence today by contacting PBN Litigation Solicitors. 

If you have suffered GP negligence in the diagnosis of a condition, your treatment or when being prescribed medication, then PBN Litigation Solicitors have the experience and expertise to manage your compensation claim*.  

You, the client, are the one suffering with unnecessary pain and trauma. The last thing you should have to worry about is dealing with the GP practice or the courts when recovering from the effects of the medical negligence. 

PBN Litigation Solicitors can take on your case and work with you to get the compensation you deserve.  

We pride ourselves in taking the stress out of medical negligence litigation by providing a service dedicated to the client.  

Contact PBN Litigation Solicitors today for all your medical negligence needs.