When that standard is not met, you may be left dealing with further treatment, avoidable complications, a longer recovery or a future that looks different from the one you had anticipated. Alongside the physical effects, there is often a sense that something was not right.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we specialise in clinical negligence claims arising in departments across England and Wales. Our clinical negligence solicitors are ranked in Tier 2 for The Legal 500 2026 and recommended in Band 3 by Chambers & Partners 2026. We are members of the AvMA specialist clinical negligence panel, and many of our lawyers hold specialist accreditations with APIL and the Law Society.
We combine medical insight with genuine human support. If you are worried that a clinical department’s care fell below an acceptable standard, we can help you understand your options in clear, straightforward language.
If you would like to talk about what happened, we offer a confidential, no obligation conversation to help you decide on the next step.
When care falls below an acceptable standard
If something about your treatment didn’t feel right, it can be difficult to know what it means. You may be facing new symptoms, a longer recovery, or the sense that something important was missed. A department clinical negligence claim helps establish whether your care met the standard expected of a competent professional and whether any avoidable errors contributed to your outcome.
The law looks first at who was responsible for your care. In a hospital, both the organisation and its clinicians usually owe you a duty to treat you with reasonable skill and care. In private or community settings, responsibility can be less clear, so we examine who was involved at each stage.
We then consider whether the care fell below an acceptable standard. Courts assess whether other competent clinicians in the same field would have supported the approach taken also known as the Bolam test. In practice, this means asking whether a reasonably competent professional would have acted differently, such as arranging tests sooner, recognising warning signs, or adjusting treatment.
Finally, we look at whether any substandard care made a real difference to the outcome. This “but for” test asks what would probably have happened if the correct care had been provided at the right time. These cases rely on detailed medical records, a clear timeline and independent expert evidence, and we guide you through each step with clarity and care.
If you are worried that something went wrong with your care, our clinical negligence solicitors are here to listen. We can talk through what happened, explain your options, and help you understand whether there may be grounds for a claim.
Common clinical departments where negligence can arise
Clinical negligence can occur in almost any hospital or clinic department. Sometimes it’s clear where the problem happened. Other times it is only after you request records, or you speak to an independent specialist, that it becomes apparent which team’s decisions made the difference. Either way, it can help to start with the department involved.
Accident and Emergency (A&E) negligence claims
A&E is fast-paced and high-pressure, and problems can arise when warning signs are missed or symptoms are not assessed thoroughly. We often investigate delays in triage, failures to arrange scans or blood tests, missed diagnoses such as sepsis, stroke or heart attack, and unsafe discharge decisions.
Ear, nose and throat (ENT) negligence claims
ENT conditions can be painful and disruptive, and some require urgent treatment, particularly where infection or breathing is involved. Claims may relate to delayed referral, missed complications, surgical errors (including tonsil or sinus surgery), or failures to escalate concerns when symptoms worsened.
Cardiology negligence claims
Cardiology concerns often involve symptoms that were not properly assessed or followed up. We investigate issues such as missed heart attack symptoms, delays to ECGs or specialist review, failures to act on abnormal results, medication errors, and problems with monitoring or follow-up after cardiac procedures.
Urology negligence claims
Urology care often depends on accurate investigation and reliable follow-up. We can advise on delays in diagnosing infection, kidney problems or cancer, complications during surgery, failures to act on test results, and avoidable harm linked to catheter care or discharge planning.
Orthopaedic negligence claims
Orthopaedic treatment is often about restoring mobility safely, whether after injury or surgery. We investigate missed fractures, delays to surgery, avoidable complications such as infection, problems with fixation or alignment, and failures in post-operative monitoring or rehabilitation planning.
Gynaecology and women’s health negligence claims
Women’s health symptoms are sometimes not investigated as promptly or thoroughly as they should be. We can help with concerns about delayed diagnosis, scanning or referral issues, surgical complications, and failures to manage pain, bleeding, infection or other symptoms with appropriate urgency and care.
If the department you are looking for is not listed above, that does not mean we cannot help. We also investigate claims involving areas such as surgery, maternity care and cancer services, and we will guide you to the right starting point based on what happened. If you would like to talk it through, contact us for a confidential, no obligation conversation about how we may be able to help.
What compensation may include
Compensation is not about placing a value on what you have been through. It is intended to provide financial security and practical support for the future.
Depending on the circumstances, a successful claim may take into account the impact of the injury on your quality of life, the cost of ongoing treatment and care, specialist therapies, mobility aids, home adaptations, lost income and pension loss. In cases where someone has died, there may be claims on behalf of the estate and certain family members.
We will talk through what may apply in your situation and provide realistic advice about what can be achieved.
Why work with Bolt Burdon Kemp
For more than 35 years, Bolt Burdon Kemp has represented individuals and families affected by serious injury and medical negligence. We are consistently ranked in the leading independent legal directories, including The Legal 500 2026 and Chambers & Partners 2026, recognising our expertise in complex and sensitive cases.
We are members of the AvMA specialist clinical negligence panel and hold the Law Society’s Lexcel practice management accreditation. Many of our lawyers are accredited by APIL and under the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme, demonstrating a recognised level of specialist knowledge and experience in this field.
All of our medical negligence cases are handled on a no win, no fee basis. This means you can seek expert legal advice without paying upfront legal fees. We will always explain clearly how funding works, so you understand where you stand from the outset.
Professional recognition is important, but how we work with our clients matters just as much. We understand that bringing a claim against a hospital or clinic can feel like a significant step, particularly when you are still living with the consequences of what happened. Our approach is straightforward and supportive. We take time to listen, we explain your options in plain English, and we stand alongside you throughout the process.
Contact us
If you are left with unanswered questions about care, we are here to help you think things through.
Whether you are at the beginning of that process, or have been considering a claim for some time, we will meet you where you are. You may want clarity about what happened. You may be seeking accountability. Or you may simply want to understand whether what occurred should have been avoided. We will listen carefully and give you an honest view.
Your first conversation with us is informal and confidential. You can explain what has been troubling you in your own words. We will ask some gentle questions to understand the timeline and advise you on whether further investigation is likely to be worthwhile.
If there are grounds to explore a claim, we will explain what happens next and what information we would need from you. If there are not, we will tell you that too. Either way, you will leave the conversation clearer about your position.
Call us or complete the enquiry form below to arrange a time to speak. We will guide you through the next step at a pace that feels right for you.
