GP and primary care negligence: the most common mistakes we see

GP or primary care service is the first place that many people will turn to when something doesn’t feel quite right. Primary care plays a vital role in keeping people well and spotting serious illness early. Most GPs and practice staff work under intense pressure and do their best for their patients. However, when mistakes happen in primary care, the consequences can be serious and sometimes life‑changing for patients.

This article considers the most common issues which can arise in claims for medical negligence involving primary care, why they matter, and how they can affect patients and their families.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm after concerns raised with a GP or primary care professional were missed, delayed, or not properly investigated, our medical negligence solicitors are here to help. We offer clear, practical advice on whether your care fell below an acceptable standard and whether you may be entitled to compensation.

Call 0800 988 8082 or complete our online enquiry form to speak with our team in confidence.

Missed or delayed referrals

This is one of the most frequent problems whereby there is a missed or delayed referral to hospital or a specialist. GPs are expected to recognise when symptoms fall outside routine care and when further investigation will be required.

Problems can arise when:

• Red‑flag symptoms are not recognised
• Referral guidelines are not followed
• Reassurance is given when symptoms are worsening or persistent

Examples of red-flag symptoms which may warrant urgent referral to secondary care are persisting pain; unexplained weight loss; neurological symptoms; or signs of infection. When this does not happen, diagnosis and treatment can be delayed, sometimes allowing a condition to progress to a more serious stage.

Failure to escalate symptoms

Primary care often involves monitoring symptoms over time as patients return to their GP practice when things do not improve. While this can be appropriate, negligence can occur when worsening or repeated symptoms are not properly escalated.

Common issues include:

• Multiple consultations without review of the bigger picture
• Failure to reassess when treatment is not working
• Assuming symptoms are minor without further checks or further investigations

In some cases, patients attend their GP surgery several times with the same or worsening complaints. Similar to missed or delayed referrals, if these are not escalated for further tests or specialist input, serious conditions such as infections, cancers or neurological problems can be missed.

Telephone and remote consultation errors

Particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, telephone and video consultations have become a routine part of general practice. While they can be convenient, they also carry risks, particularly where physical examination would be key to spotting signs and symptoms of something serious.

Examples of poor practice include:

• Relying solely on a phone call when an in‑person examination is needed
• Underestimating symptoms because visual cues are missed
• Failing to arrange follow‑up or “safety‑net” advice

Remote consultations can make it harder to assess pain, breathing difficulties, rashes or signs of infection. When symptoms are not fully explored, serious conditions may be overlooked.

Medication and prescribing mistakes

Prescribing errors are another common cause of harm in general practice. These mistakes can affect patients of all ages, particularly those taking multiple medications.

Examples include:

• Prescribing the wrong drug or dosage
• Failing to check allergies or interactions
• Not reviewing long‑term medication

In some cases, patients are kept on medication longer than intended, or changes made by hospital specialists are not followed up in primary care. Prescribing errors can lead to avoidable side effects, worsening health, or emergency hospital admission.

Delays caused by “gatekeeping”

GPs play an important role as gatekeepers to specialist care. While this helps manage NHS resources, it can also lead to harmful delays if access to investigations or referrals is too restrictive.

Issues can arise when:

• Referrals are repeatedly deferred without clear justification
• Diagnostic tests are not requested despite ongoing symptoms
• Patients feel their concerns are not being taken seriously

Gatekeeping can lead to delay in treatment and diagnosis meaning that conditions that could have been treated earlier may ultimately become more complex and harder to manage.

Why these errors matter

Primary care errors often do not involve a single obvious incident. Instead, they develop over time through missed opportunities, assumptions, or lack of follow‑up. For patients and families, the impact can be devastating, particularly when earlier action could have changed the outcome.

Why choose Calio?

At Calio, we understand the impact medical negligence can have on patients and families. Our experienced solicitors provide clear legal advice, compassionate support, and a straightforward approach from the outset. We work to secure answers, accountability, and compensation for clients affected by failures in GP and primary care treatment.

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