Medication Errors

Errors in Medication Can Have Serious Consequences

Medication errors, such as receiving the wrong prescription, incorrect dosage, or harmful drug combinations, can cause physical harm, emotional distress, and financial hardship. If you or a loved one has been affected, it’s important to understand your rights and options. At CEL Solicitors, we specialise in clinical negligence claims involving medication errors. Our experienced team will guide you through every step of the process, working on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront, and if you win, our fees come out of your compensation.

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What Are Medication Errors?

Medication errors happen when healthcare professionals make mistakes with prescriptions or drug administration. This can include:

  • Pharmacists misreading or incorrectly filling prescriptions

  • Doctors prescribing the wrong medication or dose

  • Failing to check medical histories or drug interactions

  • Combining medications that should not be taken together

These errors can occur in NHS or private healthcare settings, including hospitals, care homes, and GP surgeries.

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Types of Medication Errors

Medication errors can take several forms, all of which may cause serious harm. Common types include:

Prescription Errors:

When the wrong medication or dosage is prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Dispensing Errors:

Mistakes made by pharmacists, such as giving the incorrect medicine or mislabelling.

Administration Errors:

When medication is given incorrectly, for example, at the wrong time, in the wrong dose, or by the wrong method.

Omission Errors:

Failing to give a prescribed medication when it should have been administered.

Incorrect Drug Interactions:

Prescribing or administering drugs that negatively interact with each other or with existing medications.

Failure to Check Medical History:

Not considering allergies, previous reactions, or other health conditions before prescribing or dispensing medication.

Each type of error can have different consequences, but all may lead to harm that could have been avoided with proper care.

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How a Medication Error Claim Can Help

Making a claim is about securing the support and compensation you need to recover and rebuild. While NHS care usually covers treatment costs, compensation can assist with:

Additional Medical Expenses

Costs for private treatments, rehabilitation, or therapies not covered by the NHS.

Loss of Earnings

Compensation can help replace income lost due to illness or recovery time.

Care and Rehabilitation

Funds for essential therapies such as physiotherapy or counselling.

Home and Mobility Support

Adaptations and equipment needed for ongoing care.

Pain and Suffering

Reflecting the physical and emotional impact of the error on you and your family.

How to Make a Medication Error Claim

Here’s how the claims process works:

Seek Medical Attention

Prioritise your health and keep detailed records of treatments and diagnoses.

Gather Evidence

Collect medical records, prescriptions, and any other documents that show how the error happened.

Contact our team

Our specialist team at CEL Solicitors will provide clear advice and support throughout your claim.

Initial Consultation

We’ll assess your case, explain your legal rights, and outline potential outcomes.

Claim Filing

We’ll prepare and file the necessary documents to formally start your claim, detailing the impact on your life.

Negotiation and Settlement

Most claims settle out of court; we negotiate on your behalf for a fair resolution.

Court Proceedings

If needed, we’ll guide you through court and instruct barristers to represent you.

We’ve already helped thousands of people across the UK.

Speak to our friendly team today. You are not alone, and you may have a case.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions, answered.

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional fails to meet the expected standard of care, leading to harm. This can include incorrect or delayed diagnoses, inappropriate medication durations, or errors during medical procedures. If the care provided falls below the standard and results in worsening your condition or injury, it may constitute medical negligence.

Yes, you have the right to access your medical records. You can request them from any medical institution you have visited, including your GP, hospitals, and other care providers. This is important for reviewing your treatment and supporting your claim.

Yes, you can make a claim on behalf of someone else if you are a family member or carer. This is possible if the person is under 18, lacks the capacity to make a claim, or has died due to the negligent treatment.

No, you don’t have to complain first, but it can help. Making a complaint is free. If you were treated by the NHS, you can use the NHS complaints process, and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help. If you’re not happy with the outcome, you can take it to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for free. A complaint can get you answers and an apology, but it won’t usually get you compensation. A legal claim can. If you’ve already complained, we’ll review the response.

Most of our clients use a no-win, no-fee agreement. There’s nothing to pay upfront, and if you win, our fees come out of your compensation. We’ll explain exactly how much before you sign anything. You may also have legal expenses insurance, for example through your home insurance, so it’s worth checking.

To prove medical negligence, you need to show that the healthcare professional owed you a duty of care, failed in that duty, and that this failure caused you harm. You must also demonstrate that this harm led to physical injury, psychological trauma, or financial loss, such as lost earnings. Expert medical evidence is often required to support these claims.

Compensation is made up of two parts. One is for the injury itself and its effect on your life. The other is for money you’ve lost or spent because of it, such as lost earnings, extra medical costs and care. We’ll need medical evidence before we can tell you what your claim may be worth.

Generally, you must start your claim within three years of the incident or from when you discovered the injury. For children, the three-year period begins when they turn 18. If the affected person lacks the capacity to make decisions, the limit starts when they regain that capacity. Claims under the Human Rights Act must be made within one year. Acting quickly is advisable to ensure evidence and witness recollections are preserved.

Yes. You can make a claim for medical negligence even if your care was provided by the NHS. NHS staff have a duty of care to their patients, and if that duty is breached and causes harm, you may be able to seek compensation.

‘Never event’ is the NHS term for a serious patient safety incident that should be wholly preventable if proper safety steps are followed. Examples include surgery on the wrong part of the body, the wrong implant being used, or a swab or instrument being left inside a patient after an operation. If you’ve been affected by a never event, you may have a strong reason to make a claim.

Your case will be handled by our litigation team, made up of qualified solicitors, trainee solicitors and paralegals.

It’s complicated, and every claim is different. Medical negligence claims often take longer than other injury claims, because we need expert medical evidence to show what went wrong and how it affected you. For claims against the NHS, the National Audit Office found it takes around 1.7 years on average from when a claim is made to when it’s resolved. More complex claims, such as serious birth injuries, can take longer. We’ll keep you updated at every stage.

Why Choose CEL Solicitors?

Proven Expertise

We have extensive experience handling personal injury claims.

No-Win, No-Fee Representation

Nothing to pay upfront. If you win, our fees come out of your compensation.

Tailored Advice

Every claim is different, so we tailor our service to your needs.

Proven Success

We are committed to getting the best outcome for our clients.

If you've been injured due to someone else's negligence, don't wait. Contact CEL Solicitors to explore your personal injury options.

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