UK Medical Negligence · Independent Information Resource
Understand UK medical negligence — clearly, calmly, independently.
A free, plain-English guide to how UK clinical negligence law works — written for patients and families, not for lawyers. We are not a law firm and we do not take on claims; we explain the landscape so you can decide what to do next.
Plain-English
legal explanations
UK Law
Bolam, Bolitho & Montgomery
3-Year
limitation period
Independent
information resource
The Basics
What is medical negligence in the UK?
Short answerMedical negligence (also called clinical negligence) happens when a UK healthcare professional's care falls below the standard of a reasonably competent practitioner in their field, and that failure causes harm the patient would not otherwise have suffered. Both breach of duty and causation must be shown for a compensation claim to succeed.
The legal test was established in Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee and refined in Bolitho v City and Hackney HA. It applies to NHS and private care alike — from GPs and hospital consultants to dentists, midwives and care home staff.
Browse by topic
Where would you like to start?
Whether you're recovering from a misdiagnosis, supporting a loved one after a surgical error, or simply trying to understand what happened — start with the section that fits your situation.
Types of Medical Negligence
Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries, medication mistakes and more — explained simply.
Read moreYour Patient Rights
The legal duty of care owed to you under UK law and what providers must do when things go wrong.
Read moreThe Claims Process
From letter of claim to settlement — the realistic stages, time limits and evidence involved.
Read moreConditional Fee Agreements
How 'No Win No Fee' Conditional Fee Agreements actually work, the statutory 25% success fee cap, and ATE insurance — explained neutrally.
Read moreInteractive tools
Get a quick answer in under two minutes
Three free tools built on the actual UK legal tests — the Judicial College Guidelines, the Limitation Act 1980 and the Bolam/Bolitho standard.
Compensation calculator
Indicative damages range using Judicial College Guidelines brackets plus your past and future losses.
Open calculatorTime limit checker
Apply the 3-year rule, date-of-knowledge and the exceptions for children and lack of capacity.
Check the deadlineEligibility information tool
5 plain-English questions covering duty of care, breach, causation, harm and limitation — for information only.
Open the toolThings you should know
The essentials, before you read on
There may be a route to compensation
If a healthcare professional's care fell below the accepted UK standard and caused you harm, the law allows a claim for compensation. A solicitor regulated by the SRA can review your individual circumstances against the legal tests — this site does not.
There are strict time limits
Most clinical negligence claims must be started within three years of the incident or of your date of knowledge. Different rules apply for children and those without mental capacity.
Independent help exists
For advice on your own case, the Law Society Find a Solicitor register and AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) can point you to accredited, SRA-regulated clinical negligence specialists — independently of this site.
Keep reading — plain-English guides
Not a law firm, not a claims management company. Just an independent guide to how the UK clinical negligence system works — free, and free of pressure.
Read the Claims Process Guide