• 0161 696 6165
  • Request a callback
Stephensons Solicitors LLP Banner Image

Stroke misdiagnosis

When a stroke occurs, a quick diagnosis and starting treatment as soon as possible can make a big difference to the prognosis and recovery of the patient. If the stroke remains undiagnosed and is able to progress, it can cause serious long-term or permanent damage to the person’s health and may even be fatal. This is why it’s essential for medical professionals to react quickly if someone presents with stroke symptoms. 

If you or a loved one have experienced a late diagnosis for a stroke, or have been diagnosed and treated for another condition instead by mistake, the consequences can be severe. If you suffered due to the negligence of a medical professional or they failed in their duty of care, you may be able to claim stroke misdiagnosis compensation. Speak to our expert clinical negligence team for more information by calling us on 0161 696 6165.

Excellent4.6 score on Trustpilot
Rated 4.6 / 5 Based on 2007 reviews
Read all reviews

How can stroke misdiagnosis occur?

Medical professionals should be looking for some specific signs that may indicate that the patient has been or is suffering from a stroke. If they fail to spot these symptoms, or fail to act quickly to diagnose and start treatment, it’s likely to have a detrimental impact on the patient’s health which could have been avoided if they had taken reasonable care. If this is the case, you may be able to make a compensation claim for an undiagnosed stroke. The common signs of stroke include:

  • Drooping facial features or an inability to smile or speak as is usual for them
  • Weakness or numbness in one or both arms
  • Slurred or otherwise impaired speech

If one of more of these signs is found then starting stroke treatment as soon as possible is vital to minimise the amount of internal brain damage suffered, compared to if the stroke is allowed to progress untreated.

Incorrectly diagnosing another condition whilst a patient is showing signs of having had a stroke and therefore providing the wrong treatment can also be very detrimental to the patient’s health and can sometimes result in death. 

Stroke misdiagnosis claims

If you or a loved one visited a GP, hospital or other medical facility displaying symptoms of a stroke but were diagnosed with another condition and therefore not appropriately treated for the stroke, you may be eligible for stroke misdiagnosis compensation.

It may be that a stroke was diagnosed correctly, but the treatment given was not appropriate for the condition or was delayed. This could also mean that you might be able to make a stroke misdiagnosis claim.

If you’re unsure whether you have a stroke misdiagnosis claim, or you simply want to find out more about this type of clinical negligence, you can contact our expert stroke misdiagnosis solicitors by calling 0161 696 6165. We can offer you specialist advice that is tailored to your specific circumstances and help you to get the justice you deserve for what has happened to you.

loading staff

The government's major conditions strategy - health service

I think everyone is aware that the NHS is under pressure and that some radical changes will be required to safeguard it for the future. A lot of people may not be aware that the government is planning to publish a major conditions strategy early this...

Read more

The Bobath Centre's Christmas Appeal

Some readers may be familiar with the National Bobath Cerebral Palsy Centre and may have attended for treatment themselves or attended with a family member receiving treatment. I know that some of my clients and their families have attended the centre in...

Read more

Clin neg staff reorder

  • Louise Griffiths
  • Judith Thomas-Whittingham
  • Tom Mooney
  • Laura Sheehan
  • Claire Stockley
  • Jamie Cruickshanks
  • ​Carla Duprey
  • Sarah Masters
  • Laura Owen
  • Matthew Wan
  • Pam Thompson
  • Justine Wright