The overwhelming majority of patients receiving medical treatment in the UK enjoy a reasonable quality of care. But just occasionally, that standard of care can dip – and in a minority of those cases, that dip in care quality can amount to medical negligence.

In many cases, this can be avoided by following a few simple tips. Let’s consider them.

Communicate Clearly with Your Healthcare Providers

The more clearly you’re able to outline your concerns and symptoms, the better able your doctor will be to arrive at the right diagnosis, and to prescribe the right treatment for you. Share all of the information you think is relevant.

Stay Informed and Educate Yourself

It’s rarely a good idea to Google your symptoms – but it’s still worth researching the condition you have, and your options for treatment. If you’re in doubt, you might seek out a second opinion. This will allow you to make a more informed choice when it comes to treatment. It will also help you to spot prescription errors. You should understand exactly which drugs you’ve been prescribed, and what they look like – this might help you to avoid errors in the pharmacy.

Know Your Rights as a Patient

As a patient in the UK, you enjoy several key rights. Among the most important is the right to patient confidentiality. The medical professionals who look after you have a duty to keep your data secure. You’ll also have the right to withdraw consent to treatment. For consent to be valid, according to the NHS, it must be both informed and voluntary. In other words, you have to understand what you’re consenting to. A lack of consent has formed the basis of many medical negligence claims.

Keep Detailed Medical Records

The more accurate your records are, the less likely it is that they’ll cause a problem. Keep records of all of your correspondence related to your healthcare, and keep it in a special location. You might need it when you come to evidence a claim later on. If you notice any errors, you should notify the relevant healthcare provider. In the UK, this is usually (though not always) the NHS.

Be Proactive in Your Healthcare

The NHS is like any other organisation. If you’re passive, and you don’t follow up on appointments and phone calls, then you risk suffering delays.

It’s also worth looking after your health more generally, before the need for medical treatment arrives. A routine that incorporates a good diet and the right exercise will protect you against a range of healthcare-related problems and leave you much less likely to need medical treatment – and, therefore, much less likely to suffer medical negligence.