How Much Compensation For Misdiagnosis Could You Be Awarded?

Last updated 2nd September 2025. How much compensation for misdiagnosis you might receive for a successful claim will depend on your specific circumstances. Factors such as the severity of the harm you experienced, impact on quality of life, medical expenses, and any loss of earnings can all influence the final payout. A specialist solicitor from our panel can assess the value of your claim, so use the contact information below to find out if you could make a claim today.

Did you receive a level of healthcare that was below the expected standards from either a public or a private healthcare provider? If a misdiagnosis led to you being avoidably harmed, this guide explains all the essential information you need to know about seeking compensation from the provider at fault.

Key Takeaways 

• In the UK, healthcare professionals must meet the standards that are reasonable to expect from any other competent medic. 
• If the healthcare provider falls short of the professional standards in a way that leaves you suffering unnecessarily, this can be classed as medical negligence.
• Compensation can address the physical pain, the psychological anguish and the monetary harm that you suffered because of this.
• There is a time limit for starting medical misdiagnosis claims, but no deadline once they have begun.
• You could qualify to get help with your claim from an expert solicitor. Those on our panel offer their services in a No Win No Fee capacity. 

We expand on all these topics and more in the sections below. You can reach out to our advisors at any time as you read. They offer free information and guidance on how much compensation for misdiagnosis might apply to you. They can also answer any general questions you have about the claims process:

• Call on 0800 408 7826
• Contact us to submit a query online.
• Ask a question in the live discussion window below about misdiagnosis compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How Much Compensation For Misdiagnosis Claims Can Be Awarded?
2. What Factors Will Determine The Final Amount Of Misdiagnosis Compensation?
3. What Is Classed As Medical Misdiagnosis?
4. Can I Make A Misdiagnosis Compensation Claim?
5. Is There A Time Limit For Misdiagnosis Claims?
6. What Do I Need To Prove My Condition Was Misdiagnosed?
7. Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim For A Misdiagnosis
8. More Information

How Much Compensation For Misdiagnosis Claims Can Be Awarded?

The likely value of each misdiagnosis compensation claim will always differ. But the table below has been compiled using compensation guideline figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a text often used by those who calculate compensation in conjunction with a claimant’s medical records.

As the compensation brackets published by the JCG for various forms are strictly suggestive, the table is only used for guidance purposes. Please note that the first line in our table is not sourced from the Judicial College Guidelines:

Compensation Guidelines

AREA OF HARM	SEVERITY	COMPENSATION GUIDELINES	NOTES
Several Severe Types of Harm and Special Damages	Severe	Up to £1 million plus	This level of compensation reflects more than one severe type of harm and special damages for the lost income, care provision and private medical bills.
Brain/Head	(a) Very severe	£344,150 increasing to £493,000	A level of harm that permanently and profoundly disables the person leaving them reliant on constant professional care.
	(c) Moderate (iii)	£52,550 increasing to £110,720	Cases where the person's concentration and memory are impacted and there's a reduction in their ability to work.
Kidney	(a) Serious	£206,730 increasing to £256,780	Cases of permanent and serious damage or loss of both kidneys.
Neck	(a) Severe (ii)	£80,240 increasing to £159,770	Serious fractures and damage to cervical discs in the spine resulting in considerably severe disability.
Psychiatric harm	(a) Severe	£66,920 increasing to £141,240	Where the distressful event leaves the person with marked challenges in most areas and with a poor future prognosis.
Bowels	(d) Severe	£54,420 increasing to £85,100	Severe harm to the abdomen that impairs function and may require use of a temporary colostomy.
Digestive System	(b) Non-traumatic (i)	£46,900 increasing to £64,070	Severe toxicosis that causes vomiting, pain and diarrhoea and hospital admission.
Back	(b) Moderate (ii)	£15,260 increasing to £33,880	Covers disturbed ligaments and muscles, as well as harm to soft tissue that might worsen a pre-existing condition.
Spleen	(a) Loss of Spleen	£25,380 increasing to £32,090	Examples where the spleen has been lost and a continued risk of future infections remains.

Importantly, every misdiagnosis compensation claim will have unique factors. Therefore, the best way to discuss compensation is to reach out to an advisor to see if you can be connected to an expert solicitor from our panel. The solicitors on our panel know how to include all the relevant factors in their calculations and could do the same for you.

What Factors Will Determine The Final Amount Of Misdiagnosis Compensation?

There are several factors that can determine the ultimate compensation amount after a misdiagnosis:

• The severity and complexity of the harm experienced.
• The duration of recovery.
• The person’s rehabilitation needs for the future.
• Whether the person suffered a permanent disability or had far-reaching impacts on the overall quality of their life.

These issues are dealt with under a head of loss called general damages. The associated financial losses created by the misdiagnosis is calculated under special damages. These can only be claimed in conjunction with general damages, and documented evidence of the monetary harm will be required, such as:

• Any payslips that prove your income suffered because of the misdiagnosis.
• Proof of any private medical expenses needed, or the costs of seeing specialists.
• The receipts and invoices for any domestic support you needed, including help from paid professionals or family and friends.
• Statements or other paperwork that prove the cost of changes needed in your home to deal with a new permanent disability.
• Tickets and receipts for essential travel.
• Medication costs and prescription charges.

Can I Apply For Interim Payments

Occasionally, the outcome of a medical negligence compensation claim can appear certain before the case actually concludes. The healthcare provider at fault may admit liability, but some final calculations are still needed before the payout is made.

In cases like this, the claimant can request parts of their compensation immediately to address pressing matters, such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, and the costs of maintaining their home if they are unable to provide for themselves as normal.

These amounts are called interim payments. The court must approve them, and the request must be reasonable and related to the claimant’s well-being. Interim payments can offer the person and their family a lifeline to coping with sudden expenses after a misdiagnosis injury.

If you’d like to discuss your interim payments or better understand how much compensation for misdiagnosis you might be owed, please get in touch with our team.

What Is Classed As Medical Misdiagnosis?

Next, we examine some example scenarios that could be classified as medical misdiagnosis. Based on the duty of care that applies, we also provide an example of what sort of breach might give rise to negligence claims. The duty of care owed in healthcare settings is automatically owed to patients once a medical professional agrees to treat them. This means that all medical professionals involved in a patient’s treatment and care must provide it to the standard expected of them. 

Incorrect Diagnosis

This is when a medical professional incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition. An example would be when a GP diagnoses a skin rash as a simple topical issue, and it is actually a more serious case of early meningitis symptoms.

Missed Diagnosis

A medical professional might fail to diagnose the patient with an illness at all. This delay in treatment can cause significant additional problems. For example, a specialist might overlook a concerning skin mole in a consultation, which then worsens and causes cancer to spread in the patient.

Delayed Diagnosis

A doctor or specialist can correctly diagnose a condition, but follow-up appointments are unacceptably delayed, or the patient is not referred to the correct consultant. 

These scenarios can cause the patient to suffer significant additional and unnecessary harm. In some cases, it can be life-altering or diminish their life expectancy. To ensure that you are adequately compensated for misdiagnosis errors, regardless of how they occurred, speak to our advisors about starting a claim today.

Can I Make A Misdiagnosis Compensation Claim?

Yes, if you satisfy the eligibility conditions that apply to starting misdiagnosis claims. It’s important to show the following to move ahead with a medical negligence claim:

• That you were owed a duty of care by the healthcare professional.
• They failed to meet the standards expected of a reasonably competent healthcare provider.
• They caused you avoidable or unnecessary harm. This means harm that would not have been experienced had the correct healthcare been given.

With all three criteria in place, it is possible to launch a compensation claim for misdiagnosis. You can do this alone or possibly with the help of a skilled solicitor from our panel. Call the advisors now to see if your case qualifies. Or if you have other questions about how much compensation for misdiagnosis might be estimated, call the advisory team.

Am I Able To Claim For A Loved Ones Misdiagnosis?

Yes, you could be eligible to claim for a loved one’s misdiagnosis. There may be a need to start a compensation claim on behalf of a loved one, and to do this, you can be designated as a litigation friend by the courts. A litigation friend is a family member or another adult who is involved in the case. They typically act for those under 18 years of age and people without the mental capacity to manage their own affairs. The role requires them to carry out the responsibilities of the claim and make decisions that are in he claimant’s best interests.

If you need to seek compensation on behalf of a minor or a person with reduced mental capacity, speak to our advisory team about the role of a litigation friend. Or if you have general questions about how much compensation for misdiagnosis would be calculated for you, please get in touch for free guidance.

Is There A Time Limit For Misdiagnosis Claims?

Yes, there is a time limit within which to make medical negligence claims for compensation. The Limitation Act 1980 states that the person has 3 years starting from one of two dates (whichever is the later):

• The date of the initial harm.
• The date on which it was reasonable to suppose that harm was caused by substandard treatment and care (date of knowledge).

A misdiagnosis can result in an illness being treated incorrectly. Or not treated at all. This may cause harm at a later date; therefore, please speak with our team about the limitation period in your case. You could still have valid grounds to begin your compensation claim after a misdiagnosis.

What Do I Need To Prove My Condition Was Misdiagnosed?

You will need evidence to prove that your condition was misdiagnosed. For a claim, the evidence also needs to show that the misdiagnosis caused you harm. With this in mind, the following is useful to gather together if you can:

• Copies of your medical records that detail the diagnosis.
• A personal diary of your physical and mental health, the misdiagnosis, the dates of recommended treatment and any follow-up care.
• Photos of any visible signs of harm caused by the misdiagnosis. For example, a skin rash that was caused by the wrong medication being prescribed. Or a scar from an unnecessary procedure based on the misdiagnosis.
• Contact details of anyone who witnessed you receiving incorrect care due to a misdiagnosis. Perhaps a family member accompanied you to an appointment? Or other healthcare providers were present who witnessed the misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment that resulted from it.
• Any paperwork that shows the cost incurred from dealing with the misdiagnosis. An example is repeated taxi fares to attend appointments to correct a surgical error after a misdiagnosis.
• Expert opinions can also help to prove that your condition was misdiagnosed. A second opinion may verify your claim that the actions or inactions of another healthcare professional fell below expected standards.

Collecting supporting evidence of a medical misdiagnosis can feel daunting and confusing. Rather than face the prospect alone, why not see if a solicitor from our panel could help you claim compensation? Please call our advisors, and they can take it from there.

Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim For A Misdiagnosis

Yes, if you have concerns about the cost of working with a solicitor on your misdiagnosis claim, you could qualify to access help through a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. The solicitors on our panel provide expert support via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Several notable reasons make this funding option a good choice:

• Using a CFA means there are no immediate or ongoing solicitor’s fees to pay.
• If the claim doesn’t fall in your favour, there are no solicitor’s fees applicable for finished work on your claim.
• Should the claim outcome be a success, you only need to pay a small and legally restricted success fee. This is a percentage of the compensation that is capped by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013. You can also discuss this success fee fully with your solicitor before work starts.

Advantages like these mean you could work alongside a skilled medical negligence solicitor who is an expert at getting their clients the best results. They will help collect supporting evidence, such as witness statements and medical assessments, and then use it to calculate a comprehensive compensation amount for you.

They will then negotiate the best settlement possible for your circumstances with the other side. In addition to this, all jargon is explained, and all deadlines are met. They can help you access the most appropriate rehabilitation services and handle requests for interim payments if necessary.

This complete ‘start to finish’ service means you can concentrate fully on your recovery while the solicitor works diligently to get you the best result. Interested?

Contact How Much Compensation

• Call on 0800 408 7826 to discuss medical misdiagnosis compensation.
• Contact us to submit a query online.
• Ask a question in the live discussion window below about misdiagnosis compensation.

More Information

This article concentrated on how much compensation for misdiagnosis might be calculated. You can find additional resources on our website below.

• This guide explores further compensation for a medical negligence claim.
• Here we explain how to use our compensation calculator.
• Also, read about compensation for psychological damage.

Some useful external links:

• This resource explains the professional standard expected of its members by the General Medical Council (GMC).
• Here, you can read about NHS Resolution, the arms-length body that deals with claims of negligence against the NHS.
• Lastly, here is information about the registration of independent healthcare services.

In conclusion, thank you for your interest in our guide. If you’d like further assistance in understanding how much compensation for misdiagnosis may be applicable, please get in touch.