A&E departments are the busiest and most overstretched medical services in the UK. Clinical errors are more likely to occur in A&E than in any other part of the health service. The consequences can be severe as A&E patients may have a serious or life-threatening injury or illness resulting in severe clinical negligence.

Causes of A&E negligence

A&E negligence claims can arise due to a medical practitioner’s failure to:

• Properly examine the patient and fully consider their symptoms, injury or illness.
• Thoroughly and accurately interpret test results, x-rays or scans.
• Request and conduct the appropriate investigations, such as blood tests, x-rays or scans.
• Admit patients for further treatment.
• Recognise serious symptoms and missing high-risk conditions.

Common A&E claims:

The effects of A&E negligence can be life-changing, leaving the patient with long-term injuries or health conditions. Common types of claims of this nature include:

• Delayed treatment of illness or injury.
• Failure to properly examine the patient and fully consider their symptoms, injury or illness.
• Failure to correctly interpret test results, x-rays or scans.
• Failure to request or conduct appropriate investigations, such as blood tests, x-rays or scans.
• Failure to admit patients for further investigation or treatment.
• Incorrect medication or treatment provided.
• Misdiagnosis of illness or injury (resulting in a worse outcome overall).

How much is my A&E negligence claim worth?

A&E clinical negligence payouts are dependent upon the individual circumstances of your case. The amount will depend on factors such as:

• The severity of the effects of the clinical negligence. How your life has been affected by the injury or illness.
• Financial losses, including how much money you have lost or will lose as a result of the clinical negligence (e.g. loss of earnings, travel expenses).