Gynaecology negligence compensation claims

What is gynaecology medical negligence?

Medical negligence is when medical professionals or a hospital provide substandard care. That means their care wasn't to a standard that you could reasonably expect from them. 

Mistakes made during gynaecology diagnosis or treatment can be especially serious. They might have long term effects on your health, mental wellbeing or fertility. They can also lead to birth injuries that have an impact on your child.  

Bringing a case for compensation with the support of gynaecology negligence solicitors could help you get the compensation you deserve. Perhaps more importantly, it could highlight shortfalls in care and lead to the medical establishment learning lessons from what happened.

When can I claim for gynaecology negligence?

Gynaecology and obstetrics cover a very wide range of care - from antenatal care to treating infections, pain and infertility. This is why gynaecology negligence solicitors see an especially wide range of cases. 

Diagnosis negligence

Correctly diagnosing problems is a vital part of gynaecological care. Treatment is often delayed when doctors miss symptoms or diagnose the wrong condition. Delayed diagnosis can lead to more invasive treatment than necessary. You may even fail to get the right treatment altogether.

Many types of diagnosis mistakes can lead to unnecessary suffering and gynaecology claims:

• Not completing a proper physical examination
• Not taking a full clinical history of your health, lifestyle and symptoms
• Failure to diagnose ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, endometriosis or menstrual disorders
• Missing damage to non-reproductive organs during investigations, such as the bladder or bowel
• Mistakes taking or interpreting smear tests, with delays or failures in diagnosing gynaecological cancers
• Missed or delayed diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy
• A misdiagnosed miscarriage, a rare event where the embryo is in fact healthy
• Misinterpreting any other tests, including biopsies, blood tests, ultrasounds and x-rays
• Mistakes at childbirth, such as not diagnosing vaginal/perineal tears needing urgent repair

Treatment negligence

Mistakes made when treating patients are also the basis of compensation claims:

• Side effects from unsuitable prescription of contraceptives
• Causing damage to the uterus when fitting a coil
• Errors with a sterilisation, including a failed sterilisation
• Injuries during a termination
• Loss of fertility
• Injuries during a hysterectomy, or unnecessary hysterectomies
• Injuries caused during a hysteroscopy or laparoscopy (keyhole surgery)
• Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dose
• Leaving swabs or instruments inside the body during surgery
• Surgical errors causing nerve damage, pain, incontinence etc 
• Damage caused during a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation

Treatment negligence also includes mistakes made during pregnancy and childbirth. The Birth Trauma Association say that about 30,000 women a year experience some form of birth trauma. Examples are organ damage during Caesarean section, vaginal/perineal tearing and birth injuries. 

You may also bring a gynaecology compensation case for wrongful birth. In some cases, a mistake leads to the birth of an unplanned baby. In other cases, medical professionals don't inform expectant parents about birth defects. 

Your right to giving ‘informed consent'

A negligence claim may be possible if you didn't give ‘informed consent' before treatment. Doctors must legally explain the risks of treatment and get your consent. They should also tell you about any alternatives to the treatment.

If you wouldn't have gone ahead if you'd known about the risks and alternatives, you may have a negligence claim. You may also have grounds for a claim if doctors extend a procedure in a way that you didn't consent to.

Help from specialist gynaecology negligence solicitors

You may be unsure whether you've experienced medical negligence. That's understandable as medical matters can be confusing. But we can help you with this and support you with a claim for  compensation. 

When you call us on we'll listen carefully to what happened, giving you all the time you need to talk. Then we'll put you in touch with a specialist gynaecology negligence solicitor to take your claim further. 

What is an unnecessary hysterectomy?

Hysterectomies are unfortunately necessary in the treatment of some medical conditions. But hysterectomies are sometimes performed when alternative treatments are possible.

This can be very distressing because a hysterectomy is a major operation. It can involve a lengthy recovery time, persistent pain and a greater risk of early menopause. As well as physical impacts, you might also experience long term psychological problems.

Many women would have preferred to hear about alternatives to hysterectomy. These include hormonal therapies, endometrial ablation, oral contraceptives or an IUD.

Are you concerned that you were not properly informed about alternatives? Or that your hysterectomy may have been unnecessary for any reason? Please call us in confidence on  or request a call back to discuss your situation. We'll connect you with a specialist gynaecology lawyer if we think you have a case for compensation.

How much gynaecology compensation might I be entitled to?

The level of compensation awarded for gynaecology claims varies from case to case. Award amounts largely depend on the suffering and financial losses experienced. Compensation will fall into two categories for purposes of your claim:    

• Your pain, suffering and the effect on your everyday life such as being able to enjoy hobbies. The name for compensation in this category is general damages.  
• Loss of earnings or other financial losses experienced due to your injury. This can include costs for treatment such as therapy or counselling. Compensation for these losses isspecial damages.

There's no fixed amount for gynaecology compensation awards, although there are guidelines. These are published by a government department called the Judicial College.

The guidelines include a section on the female reproductive system. Here are some examples of the compensation award levels covered:

Your gynaecology lawyer will help you understand the level of compensation that might be possible. Call us on or request a call back and we can arrange the advice you need.

Is there a time limit for making a gynaecology negligence claim?

Time limits are in place for making medical negligence claims. In most cases, you must make a claim within three years of the negligence or when you became aware of it.

Someone will have longer to make a claim in two main circumstances:  

• If you were under 18 at the time and didn't claim, you have three years from your 18th until your 21st birthday to claim.
• No time limit applies where someone lacks the physical or psychological capability to make a claim.

If you're unsure about what these time limits or exceptions mean for you, please call us on or request a call back. We'll advise you on whether you are eligible to make a no win no fee claim. 

How will my claim be funded?

At National Accident Helpline we specialise in no win no fee claims.  It means you'll pay nothing at all if you lose, and you'll only pay if you win. Importantly, it means you get fair access to justice if you've suffered through medical negligence.

Once your solicitor takes on your case there are no upfront costs or hidden charges. All these are covered throughout your case and you'll pay nothing at all if your case isn't successful. 

Depending on your claim type and value, if you win your case the other side will be obliged to contribute to your legal costs and expenses. Any shortfall in their contribution is deducted from your compensation, and this will be explained to you at the start of your claim.

The costs may include an ‘After the Event' (ATE) insurance policy taken out to make sure your claim is financially risk free. Any legal costs including fixed fees not met by the other side may also need to be covered. Where applicable, they may also be a ‘success fee' for winning your claim.

You'll know what to expect right from the start, with no hidden surprises. There really is no financial risk stopping you from claiming for the compensation you deserve.

Will I need to go to court?

Gynaecology negligence solicitors usually manage cases without a court hearing. Various dispute resolution options are available that can avoid the need for court action. Even when a court date is set, often the claim settles before that date.

Sometimes a case does go to court, often when your solicitor believes it's the best way to get the compensation you deserve. This may seem daunting, but your solicitors will support and act for you throughout the process.

How do I make a gynaecology negligence claim?

You could claim compensation if you have suffered as a result of medical negligence. Gynaecology claims can be especially sensitive, so we'll never rush you into anything. You can call us in confidence with no pressure as a first step.

Our friendly and personal injury advisors will listen to what has happened to you or a loved one. If you are eligible to claim, they will match you with experienced gynaecology negligence solicitors who will give you a free consultation and discuss how they can help you. You'll feel well informed about your options and able to make a decision about whether to go ahead with a claim.

Starting your claim is as simple as calling us on or filling in our secure online form to arrange a call back. We also have a claim online tool to aim to make the claims process as fast and stream-lined as possible. The claim online tool can let you know how much you could be owed and wether you are eligible to make a claim with us.