We can help you to secure fair compensation for delayed cancer diagnosis claims.
Cancer should be diagnosed and treated promptly so that patients can have a greater chance to make a full or improved recovery. Any delays in diagnosis or treatment can mean more invasive treatment is required, or where any treatment would now be futile, leaving patients with ongoing health problems or even resulting in death.
At Ashtons Legal, we work with clients all over the UK to secure fair compensation for delayed cancer diagnoses. We know how difficult these situations can be and how much difference a successful claim can make.
Whether you already know there were negligent delays in a cancer diagnosis or simply have questions you want answered, we can quickly assess your situation and advise on whether a claim may be possible. We can also assist with cancer misdiagnosis claims.
Our experts can offer you:
- A free initial consultation on your claim
- No win no fee funding
- A negotiation-led approach that means most claims are settled out of court
- Independently accredited expertise you can trust
- A very strong track record of successful claims
- A sensitive, personal service to support you during this difficult time
- A free rehabilitation service to aid your or your loved one’s recovery
Have a question? Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions About Delayed Cancer Diagnosis or get in touch and we will be happy to guide you.
Find Out More About Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Compensation
To learn more about claiming compensation for delayed cancer diagnosis, please contact our experts. You will be offered a free initial consultation to sensitively discuss the particulars of your case and plan the potential next steps.
You can get in touch by calling 0330 404 0749, emailing enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk or filling in the enquiry form on the right-hand side of our contact page.
Our Expertise with Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Compensation
Ashtons Legal provides a sensitive, client-focused service which is designed to make pursuing compensation for delayed cancer diagnosis or a delay in cancer treatment as straightforward as possible.
Our medical negligence solicitors offer high-level expertise in all types of delayed cancer diagnosis claims. We have a history of securing fair compensation for clients under the most challenging circumstances, avoiding the need for contentious court proceedings in most cases.
You may be confused, traumatised and struggling to trust that you will be treated fairly after what you have experienced. We are committed to meeting your needs and making sure you can get the support you require to secure compensation and have the best quality of life going forward.
Ashtons Legal is an industry-leading law firm. We are recognised by top client guides the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners and also hold many specialist accreditations, including Lexcel, AvMa, Brain Injury Group, APIL and many more.
Senior members of our team are recognised by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as either Senior Fellows or Senior Litigators. They are on the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel and Sharon Allison, our Head of Medical Negligence, also belongs to the Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) Clinical Negligence Panel.
How To Make a Delayed Diagnosis of Cancer Claim
Our team at Ashtons Legal can guide you through every step of making a delayed diagnosis of cancer claim. We will provide hands-on, practical support and close personal service to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Our delayed cancer diagnosis claims service includes:
- Assessing your claim
- No win no fee funding
- Building your case including access to experienced medical experts to support your claim
- Drafting and submitting a Letter of Claim to the defendant
- Mediation processes to reach a settlement
- Representing you in Court if necessary
- Access to our free rehabilitation service for ongoing health support
To make a delayed cancer diagnosis claim, get in touch with our solicitors at Ashtons Legal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Delayed Cancer Diagnosis
What happens if cancer treatment is delayed?
If cancer treatment is delayed, the impact on the patient can be catastrophic.
If the disease progresses due to a delay in treatment, then more aggressive treatment may be required with the potential for more serious side effects. It is also possible that the treatment will not be as effective, leaving the patient with a worse long-term outcome for their health.
In the worst-case scenario, a delay in treatment could mean that a cancer that would have been treatable with earlier intervention is now untreatable. This can, sadly, lead to the death of the patient when this could have been avoided with prompt treatment.
What is considered late diagnosis of cancer?
Delayed diagnosis of cancer is where signs of cancer are not properly identified or where they are identified but medical professionals fail to promptly reach the right diagnosis.
Whether a delayed diagnosis of cancer is considered negligent will depend on the circumstances, which is something our team can assess for you.
What types of delayed cancer diagnosis claims can we help with?
Ashtons has a substantial portfolio of helping clients make successful delayed cancer diagnosis claims. We can help you make claims for several types of cancer diagnoses, including:
- Cervical
- Colon
- Stomach
- Kidney
- Breast
- Lung
This list is not comprehensive, so please feel free to get in touch with our expert solicitors to see whether we can help with your cancer diagnosis.
Can you sue the NHS for delayed diagnosis of cancer?
You can only seek compensation if you are able to show that a delayed diagnosis was the result of medical negligence (also sometimes referred to as ‘clinical negligence’). Working out whether such negligence has occurred will be one of the first steps in the claims process.
For a delayed cancer diagnosis to be considered negligent, we will need to show that:
- A medical professional owed you or a loved one a duty of care
- The way your/your loved one’s cancer diagnosis was handled breached this duty of care, resulting in a delayed diagnosis
This resulted in a worse outcome for your/your loved one’s health
How much compensation can you get for delayed diagnosis?
Exactly how much compensation you can claim for a delayed cancer diagnosis will depend on the particular circumstances of your case. The process of working this out is known as ‘assessing quantum of damages’ or ‘assessing quantum’.
Broadly, the compensation available will cover two things:
General damages: Covering issues such as suffering, pain and loss of amenity (which refers to any activities you can no longer carry out that you previously could). Where your loved one has died, it may also include specific losses relating to their death.
Special damages: Covering specific financial losses you have experienced or expect to experience due to a delayed cancer diagnosis e.g. lost income (both so far and expected future losses), medical and care costs, paying for home adjustments and specialist equipment etc.
How long do you have to make a cancer claim?
You generally have three years to make a claim for delayed diagnosis of cancer. This time limit is counted from the so-called “date of knowledge” i.e. the date on which you were first aware (or should reasonably have been aware) that there had been a delayed cancer diagnosis and that medical negligence may have been responsible.
If you need to make a claim on behalf of someone who has died due to a fatal delay in cancer treatment, then you will normally have three years from the date of death to start a claim.
Our team can advise you on how the time limits work and how this applies to your situation.
Find Out More About Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Compensation
To learn more about claiming compensation for delayed cancer diagnosis, please contact our experts. You will be offered a free initial consultation to sensitively discuss the particulars of your case and plan the potential next steps.
You can get in touch by calling 0330 404 0749, emailing enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk or filling in the enquiry form on the right-hand side of our contact page.