Quick answers
These answers are designed to help patients and families understand what a solicitor will usually need before advising on a GP negligence claim. They are general information only.
What evidence proves GP negligence?
GP negligence is usually proved through a combination of records, chronology and expert evidence. The records show what happened; expert evidence addresses whether the care was reasonable and whether any failure caused harm.
The GP records
GP records may include consultation notes, telephone triage entries, symptom history, examination findings, prescriptions, test requests, results, referral letters, messages and tasks. These records are usually the starting point.
Hospital and specialist records
Hospital records can show what diagnosis was eventually made, whether urgent treatment was needed, what stage the condition had reached and what specialists thought about the delay.
Why a timeline matters
A good chronology shows when symptoms began, when the patient sought help, what the GP recorded, when tests were ordered, when results returned, when referral happened and what harm followed.
Why expert evidence matters
It is not enough to feel that the GP got it wrong. Independent expert evidence is usually needed on breach of duty and causation: what a reasonable GP should have done and whether earlier action would probably have changed the outcome.
Documents families should keep
Keep appointment dates, NHS App screenshots, letters, test results, referral letters, complaint responses, discharge summaries, photographs where relevant and notes of conversations with healthcare providers.
When to contact Scott
If the outcome was serious and the records suggest missed red flags, delayed referral, failure to act on results or poor follow-up, Scott and his team can consider whether the matter merits investigation.