Failure to Make An Urgent Referral Claims

Has Your Doctor Failed to Make An Urgent Referral?

When something doesn’t feel right with your health, you put your trust in your doctor to recognise when further investigation is needed. Being told later that you should have been referred to a specialist sooner can be incredibly difficult to come to terms with, particularly if you had been raising concerns or seeking help for some time.

You may be left wondering why your symptoms weren’t investigated sooner, why a referral wasn’t made and whether receiving specialist care earlier could have changed what happened.

If your GP or another healthcare professional failed to make an urgent referral and this led to a delay in your diagnosis or treatment, you may be entitled to make a medical negligence claim.

At Macks Solicitors, we understand how upsetting it can be to discover that your concerns may not have been acted upon when they should have been. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors can listen to what happened, explain your legal options and support you throughout the claims process.

Free Initial Discussion

For no-obligation advice and information, call our specialist medical negligence solicitors today on 01642 843 667 or use our contact form and we will call you back.

What Is An Urgent Referral?

An urgent referral is made when a healthcare professional believes that a patient’s symptoms, examination findings or test results require prompt assessment by another healthcare professional or specialist.

For example, a GP may refer a patient urgently to a hospital or specialist department where there are concerning symptoms or test results that need further investigation.

The urgency of a referral will depend on the circumstances and the potential underlying condition.

When Should a Doctor Make An Urgent Referral?

Healthcare professionals should consider whether a referral is necessary based on the symptoms you report, your medical history, examination findings and any test results.

An urgent referral may be appropriate where there are signs or symptoms that could indicate a serious underlying condition.

A failure to make an urgent referral may be concerning where:

• Your symptoms indicated that specialist assessment was needed.
• Your test results showed a significant abnormality.
• Your symptoms continued or became worse.
• You repeatedly returned to your GP with the same concerns.
• A referral should reasonably have been made but was not.
• The delay resulted in your condition worsening or your treatment being delayed.

Can A Failure To Make An Urgent Referral Be Medical Negligence?

It can be, depending on the circumstances.

Not every delayed referral will amount to medical negligence. To make a successful claim, it will generally be necessary to establish that the healthcare professional’s decision fell below the appropriate standard of care and that this caused you harm.

For example, if your symptoms or test results should reasonably have led to an urgent referral but your doctor failed to arrange one, and this resulted in a delayed diagnosis or treatment, there may be grounds for a claim.

Our medical negligence solicitors can review your medical records and obtain independent medical evidence to determine whether the care you received was appropriate.

What Can Happen If An Urgent Referral Is Delayed?

The impact of a delayed referral will depend on the condition involved and how long you had to wait for appropriate care.

In some cases, a delayed referral can lead to:

• A delayed diagnosis.
• Delayed treatment.
• A condition becoming more advanced.
• Symptoms becoming worse.
• More extensive treatment being required.
• Reduced treatment options.
• Avoidable pain and suffering.
• A poorer long-term outcome.

In some circumstances, an earlier referral could have meant that a condition was diagnosed and treated before it became more serious.

If you believe you should have been referred urgently but this did not happen, our specialist medical negligence solicitors can help you understand your options. Call our specialist medical negligence solicitors today on 01642 843 667 or use our contact form and we will call you back.

Can a GP Fail To Make An Urgent Referral?

es. GPs are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing symptoms and may need to refer them to a specialist or hospital for further investigation. A failure may occur where a GP:

• Does not recognise symptoms that require urgent investigation.
• Fails to make a referral.
• Makes a routine referral when an urgent referral was appropriate.
• Delays making the referral.
• Fails to act on abnormal test results.
• Does not refer a patient despite persistent or worsening symptoms.

If your GP failed to make an appropriate referral and you suffered harm as a result, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim.

Can a Hospital Fail To Make An Urgent Referral?

Yes. Hospitals and healthcare professionals can also fail to make appropriate referrals during or following treatment.

For example, a hospital may fail to refer you to the appropriate specialist after identifying concerning symptoms, examination findings or test results.

A failure to arrange appropriate specialist care may cause unnecessary delays in diagnosis or treatment.

Can a Delayed Referral Cause a Cancer Diagnosis to Be Delayed?

A delayed referral can sometimes result in a cancer diagnosis being made later than it should have been. For example, a patient may visit their GP with symptoms that should have resulted in an urgent referral, but instead receives reassurance, routine follow-up or no referral at all.

If cancer is subsequently diagnosed and expert medical evidence establishes that an earlier referral would probably have led to an earlier diagnosis or treatment, there may be grounds for a medical negligence claim.

What If My Doctor Kept Telling Me To Wait?

If you repeatedly sought medical attention but were not referred despite ongoing or worsening symptoms, you may understandably have concerns about whether your care was appropriate.

Your medical records can help establish what symptoms you reported, what examinations or investigations were carried out, what your doctor knew at the time and whether a referral was considered or arranged.

Our solicitors can review the circumstances and advise whether the delay may amount to medical negligence.

What Evidence Is Needed For a Failure To Refer Claim?

Medical records are likely to be important when investigating a delayed or missed referral claim. These may show:

• The symptoms you reported.
• The dates you attended your GP or hospital.
• Examination findings.
• Test results.
• What your healthcare professional knew at the time.
• Whether a referral was discussed.
• When a referral was eventually made.
• When you were diagnosed and received treatment.

We may also obtain independent medical evidence to establish whether an earlier referral should have been made and whether this would have changed your outcome.

Can I Claim Compensation For a Delayed Referral?

You may be able to make a medical negligence claim if a failure to make an urgent referral caused you avoidable injury or harm. Compensation may include damages for:

• Pain and suffering.
• Loss of earnings.
• Medical and treatment expenses.
• Rehabilitation costs.
• Care and assistance.
• Future financial losses.

The amount of compensation will depend on the nature and severity of the harm you have suffered and how the delayed referral has affected your life.

How Long Do I Have To Make a Claim?

In most cases, you have three years to begin a medical negligence claim.

This will usually run from the date the negligence occurred or from the date you became aware that your injury may have been caused by medical negligence.

There are exceptions to the usual time limits, including claims involving children and people who lack mental capacity.

If you are unsure whether you are within the time limit, our specialist solicitors can advise you.

Why Choose Macks Solicitors?

Finding out that you should have been referred sooner can leave you feeling frustrated, worried and let down by the healthcare professionals you trusted.

At Macks Solicitors, our specialist medical negligence solicitors understand how difficult it can be to discover that an earlier referral may have made a difference to your diagnosis or treatment.

We will take the time to understand what happened, review the circumstances of your care and explain your options clearly. If you have grounds for a claim, we can support you throughout the legal process.

Contact us

For more information about making a medical negligence claim, you can call us on 01642 843 667; alternatively, complete our online contact form and one of our solicitors will be in touch.