Hospital Negligence Claims
Hospital treatment should leave you better off than when you arrived. When a surgical error, a missed diagnosis or a failure to monitor causes harm that could have been avoided, you have every right to ask why, and to seek answers. If substandard care in a hospital has affected your health or your life, you may be entitled to make a hospital negligence claim.
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Alternatively, talk to one of our team members on 0330 111 3131 or via our online enquiry form.
What is hospital negligence?
Hospital negligence occurs when a healthcare professional, whether a surgeon, nurse, anaesthetist or consultant, fails to provide the standard of care expected of a competent practitioner, and that failure causes a patient avoidable harm.
Hospital negligence claims we help with
Our solicitors for hospital negligence in Manchester, Sale and Chester handle claims against both NHS trusts and private hospitals. Whether you’ve experienced a surgical error, a delayed diagnosis or inadequate aftercare, we can tell you plainly whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Surgical errors
A surgical error occurs when a procedure is carried out incorrectly, on the wrong site, or without proper consent. This includes failures in pre-operative checks and post-operative care, not just the operation itself.
Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis
A misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis happens when hospital staff fail to identify a condition a competent clinician should have caught. Common examples include cancer not identified in time, appendicitis missed in A&E and stroke symptoms not acted upon.
Medication and anaesthetic errors
A medication error occurs when a patient receives the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or a medicine that conflicts with a known allergy. Anaesthetic errors can cause equally serious and lasting harm.
Failure to monitor and poor aftercare
A hospital has a duty to monitor patients during treatment and provide adequate aftercare once a procedure is complete. Premature discharge or failure to spot a deteriorating condition can both constitute negligence.
Hospital-acquired infections
A hospital-acquired infection, such as MRSA or C. difficile, may amount to negligence where the hospital failed to meet appropriate hygiene and infection control standards.
Birth injuries
Negligent care during labour and delivery, from inadequate foetal monitoring to delayed intervention, can have lifelong consequences for mother and child.
How a hospital negligence claim works
1. Free initial assessment
We review what happened and give you a straight answer on whether you have a viable hospital negligence claim
2. Gathering medical evidence
We obtain your full hospital records and instruct an independent medical expert to assess whether the care you received fell below an acceptable standard. This stage typically takes 4–12 weeks and is where most claims are built or broken.
3. Letter of claim
We set out the negligence allegations formally in writing to the hospital or trust, whether NHS or private, along with their insurer. They then have four months to respond.
4. Negotiation and settlement
The majority of hospital negligence claims are resolved through negotiation, without the need for a court hearing. NHS claims are handled by NHS Resolution; private hospital claims are handled by the hospital’s insurer. In both cases, most matters settle before trial.
5. Court proceedings (if necessary)
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will issue court proceedings and represent you fully. This is the exception rather than the rule, but when it’s necessary, we’re ready to help.
Why choose Slater Heelis for hospital negligence claims
Recognised excellence you can trust
We’re listed in The Times Best Law Firms for 2026, and The Legal 500 recognises us as one of the leading firms in the North West. Alex Barley, Partner in the Personal Injury team was shortlisted in the Manchester Legal Awards for Partner of the Year 2026 and is ranked Up and Coming in Chambers and Partners. Our hospital negligence solicitors are consistently praised for their expertise and the care they show clients during some of the most difficult times imaginable. With over 1,800 reviews and an average rating of 4.9/5 on ReviewSolicitors, our clients trust us enough to recommend us to others in the same position.
No win, no fee: no financial risk
We handle hospital negligence claims on a no win, no fee basis, meaning no upfront costs and no financial risk to you. We only get paid if your claim succeeds. You’ll deal directly with our team from day one, not a claims company that takes a cut and hands your case to someone else.
Experienced solicitors who know how these cases work
Hospital negligence claims, whether against an NHS trust or a private hospital, involve specialist legal and medical evidence, and the process is rarely straightforward. Our team across Manchester, Sale and Chester has experience handling claims involving surgical errors, birth injuries, missed diagnoses and more. We’ll give you an honest assessment from the start, and if we take your case on, we’ll pursue it properly.
If substandard hospital care has left you or someone you care about with lasting harm, our hospital negligence solicitors in Manchester, Sale and Chester are ready to help. We’ll listen carefully, assess your situation honestly, and handle everything if there’s a claim worth pursuing.
Call us on 0330 111 3131 or get in touch through our online enquiry form. We handle all hospital negligence claims on a no win, no fee basis, so there’s no financial risk to you.
We’re based in Manchester, Sale and Chester with offices open for face-to-face meetings, and we also work with clients across the UK. Taking legal action after a difficult hospital experience isn’t easy; we’ll take as much of the weight off you as we can and keep you informed at every stage.
Start your hospital negligence claim today
