Thinkyou have a case

for MedicalNegligence?

Taking legal action for Medical Negligence canbe daunting, especially if the case is against theNHS. NHS care is usually very good and most peopledon’t have any problems. But occasionallythings can go wrong.

What is medical negligence?Medical Negligence can occur in a number of ways, such as wherea medical professional: · Failed to diagnose your condition or made thewrong diagnosis;· Made a mistake during a procedure or operation· gave you the wrong  medication;· Didn't get your informed consent and / or  discuss all treatmentoptions;· Didn’t warn you about the risks of a particulartreatment.

Is it difficult to bring a claim?  Can Iget help?

You may also feel anxious talking about personal information

especially if the situation is stressful and upsetting. It is importantthat you understand that you do not have to deal with the

consequences of Medical Negligence alone.

It is advised to seek professional, legal advice as soon as possible. Ifyou’ve been injured due to negligent medical treatment, you may be

able to take legal action for compensation.

Is it difficult to bring a claim?  Can I gethelp?

Who has died because of negligent medical treatment;Who can’t take legal action themselves because they don’t have capacity.

Before taking legal action you may want to consider if taking your case tocourt is the best form of action. If your dispute is about a misunderstanding or communication breakdown,court may not the best place to sort it out. It's usually better to try other options first which we can advise you on. Also, taking a case to court can be stressful can take a lot of time, so beprepared for this. However, our specialists are there through every step ofthe way with you. You could also take legal action for compensation ifyou’re the next of kin of someone:

What can I claim for?

Compensation for physical and psychological pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment ofactivitiesPayment for ongoing treatment such as physiotherapyLoss of past and / or future earnings The cost of any extra care or equipment you may needThe cost of adapting your home

You can claim compensation for any injuries or losses suffered which were a direct result of thenegligent treatment you received. This can include:

We will look at your case to decide if it’s strong enough to take it on, and for this we will need asmuch information as possible. It helps if you keep a record of everything that’s relevant to your treatment and any paperworkyou've have if you've been through the complaints procedure, if you have gone down that routebefore contacting us. Also, keep a record of any expenses you’ve had to pay and any loss ofearnings.

What will you do when I ring you?

We will decide if your case has a reasonable chance ofsuccess based on the information you are able to provideand our experience of dealing with clinical negligencecases. It is important you contact us as soon as possible as strict time limits apply to bringing a claim for clinical negligence.

What will you do when I ring you?We will also discuss the best way to fund your claim. You may alreadyhave Before the Event Insurance (BTE) that could be used to fund theclaim. We can offer different arrangements for payment, such asprivate paying (where you pay the full cost of the case) or if we willoffer a conditional fee agreement.  Be aware that there is no legal aid available for most MedicalNegligence cases, and is only available in very specific cases.  Asexperts, we can advise you on this, if it is available for your case, wecan apply for this. Michelle Gyte, Head of Medical Negligence team, is amember of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel.

Medical Negligence Team

Our Medical Negligence Specialists are normal, down to earth people andcan support you through your negligence claim.

If you would like some free advice on a potential case, we offer free drop in days at ourBarnsley office on Wednesdays, 10am – 4pm, and our Rotherham office, Thursday 10am –

4pm. Alternatively you can contact our team at enquiries@howellsllp.com or call us on0114 2496666.