Sometimes it would be sufficient to make a complaint about the mistreatment that you have suffered. Compensation isn’t always payable; however you should still make your concerns heard if you feel you have a complaint to make.

You are unlikely to receive anything in the way of compensation if you make a complaint instead of a claim. Financial compensation shouldn’t be your only goal though. If you make a complaint then procedures may be put in place to stop the same thing happening again to someone else. This can only result in a better service for all.

If you do wish to make a claim then there is a time limit of 3 years between when the negligence occurred and making the claim. This time limit can be extended if you can prove that the evidence for the complaint did not come to light immediately. An example of this might be that you suffered an illness as a result of negligence and that this illness took a long time to manifest itself.

Medical negligence may never go away but with the right attitude and a strict and formal complaints procedure we can hopefully reduce the instances of occurrence.