The Responsibilities of GPs

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GPs

General Practitioners or GPs are our ‘family doctors’. They are trained in all areas of general medicine and are our first port of call when we have a medical problem or concern. Their main responsibilities include diagnosis, referrals to specialists and writing prescriptions. They also offer screening services to help keep us well and support us throughout our lives. GPs can often be the first step in a long treatment process and so it is important that they have the knowledge and level of observance to guide us in the right direction for the best results.

Fortunately, and despite the shortages of GPs regularly highlighted in the news, GPs in the UK continue to provide excellent care for the majority of the time. However, occasionally the care they provide is inadequate, and when this occurs there can be devastating long term consequences. One of the most common mistakes a GP can make is misdiagnosis. This is a serious error as it could lead to a patient receiving unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments, in addition to creating a delay in them receiving the correct treatment. If the condition missed is serious enough, the consequences could even be life-threatening.

Other common GP negligence cases involve:

  • failure to conduct adequate examination
  • prescription errors
  • failure to provide a reasonable standard of care
  • treatment errors
  • failure to refer to specialists
  • failure to take your medical history into account

Patients who have suffered as a result of medical negligence by professionals deserve to be compensated for the damage caused.

Doctor reaching for a handshake. GPs.

Can We Help You?

Should you choose to pursue a case for medical negligence, it is important to choose the right solicitor in order to have the best chance of success. This is particularly true in cases of GP medical negligence where it can sometimes be difficult to prove causality between the actions of the professional and damage suffered. Jobling Gowler are your local specialist medical negligence solicitors. We have the skills and experience necessary to deal with complex medical negligence cases such as these. We have successfully helped many clients to obtain compensation from their current or former GPs. At Jobling Gowler we also understand how difficult this time can be for you and your family. Our objective is always to achieve the optimal result for your personal situation, in order to help you return to normal life. To ensure this, we offer bespoke legal services tailored to your individual needs.

Jobling Gowler are highlighted in the Legal 500, a ranking of the top law firms in the country, for our clinical negligence expertise.

Have you suffered injury following treatment by your current or former GPs in the last 3 years? Please contact one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors today who will be happy to arrange an initial free consultation. Please call 01625 614250 or complete the enquiries form below: