Typical NHS negligence payout ranges for 20 injury types, based on the Judicial College Guidelines used by courts and NHS Resolution.
An NHS compensation calculator is a guide to the typical compensation amounts available for different types of NHS medical negligence, based on the Judicial College Guidelines used by courts and NHS Resolution when assessing and settling claims. Using a medical negligence compensation calculator can provide a helpful compensation estimate for those considering a claim, but it is important to remember that these calculators only offer rough guidance and do not guarantee exact compensation payouts.
This guide provides typical payout ranges across 20 NHS negligence injury categories, explains how settlements are calculated, and helps you understand what your claim may be worth before speaking to a solicitor. Using a medical negligence claim calculator can give you an initial estimate, but compensation amounts vary depending on your personal injury case, eligibility criteria, and specific circumstances.
For a full overview of the NHS compensation claim process, see our NHS compensation claim page.
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There is no single average NHS compensation figure. Settlement amounts vary enormously depending on injury type, severity, long-term prognosis, financial losses, and whether the harm was a direct result of negligence by medical professionals. To have a valid claim, you must demonstrate that the healthcare provider breached their duty of care, causing avoidable harm, unnecessary harm, or serious and permanent damage.
The figures in this guide cover general damages only. Your total claim compensation will be higher once financial losses are added, including lost earnings, care costs, and rehabilitation expenses. Compensation payouts can also include damages for pain and suffering, loss of sexual function, and other personal impacts.
“General damages compensate for the pain, suffering and personal impact of the injury; financial losses are calculated separately.
Find your injury type or closest equivalent in the compensation table below. The figures shown are typical ranges for general damages, compensation for the pain, suffering, and personal impact of the injury.
To estimate your total settlement, add:
Compensation amounts can vary on a case-by-case basis, so for a case-specific assessment based on your circumstances, contact us for a free consultation with our team today.
Figures are general-damages brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition). They are a guide; each claim is assessed on its own facts and medical evidence, and special damages are calculated separately.
Filter by severity
| Injury Type | Typical General Damages |
|---|---|
| Minor soft tissue injury, full recovery | £1,000 – £5,000 |
| Minor surgical error, full recovery | £5,000 – £15,000 |
| Scarring, moderate, visible | £8,000 – £25,000 |
| Delayed diagnosis, limited long-term effect | £10,000 – £30,000 |
| Delayed diagnosis, moderate long-term impact | £30,000 – £60,000 |
| Delayed diagnosis, serious, permanent effect | £60,000 – £120,000 |
| Surgical nerve damage, partial, ongoing | £15,000 – £45,000 |
| Surgical nerve damage, permanent, severe | £45,000 – £90,000 |
| Loss of vision (one eye) | £50,000 – £90,000 |
| Loss of vision (both eyes) | In the region of £355,020 |
| Loss of hearing (partial) | £20,000 – £50,000 |
| Loss of hearing (total, both ears) | £119,890 – £144,860 |
| Amputation of a leg (above knee) | £138,490 – £181,610 |
| Amputation of an arm | £127,050 – £181,200 |
| Psychiatric injury / PTSD (moderate) | £10,000 – £35,000 |
| Psychiatric injury / PTSD (severe, permanent) | £35,000 – £110,000 |
| Brain injury (moderate) | £56,890 – £289,420 |
| Brain injury (severe, permanent disability) | £289,420 – £533,720 |
| Cerebral palsy, birth injury | severe cases in the region of £372,570 – £533,720 |
| Delayed cancer diagnosis, fatal outcome | £100,000 – £300,000+ |
These ranges are for general damages only. Financial losses, or special damages, are calculated separately and can significantly increase total settlements. Special damages cover financial losses such as lost earnings, care costs, and medical expenses. For a wider breakdown across all injury types, see our UK compensation payouts guide.
“Independent medical expert evidence, including review of scans and treatment records, is used to confirm injury severity and prognosis.
These figures include:
These figures do not include:
In serious and catastrophic injury cases, financial losses can exceed general damages by a substantial margin. A client with permanent damage from a surgical error may receive £80,000 in general damages but several hundred thousand pounds in special damages once future care, lost earnings, and adaptation costs are included.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are published by the Judicial College, the body responsible for training judges in England and Wales. They set out bracket ranges used by courts when assessing general damages in personal injury and medical negligence cases.
NHS Resolution uses the same guidelines when investigating and settling claims. Claimant and defendant expert witnesses both refer to the JCG when providing opinions on the appropriate level of general damages for a given injury.
The guidelines are periodically updated to reflect inflation and developments in case law. The figures in this guide are based on the current 18th edition. Because each claim is assessed on its own facts, the JCG ranges are starting points. The final figure may vary depending on the specific diagnosis, medical evidence, duration of symptoms, mental capacity, and impact on the individual claimant.
“Every financial loss caused by the negligence is documented, using medical records, payslips and bank statements, to calculate special damages.
NHS compensation settlements are built from the ground up for each individual case. The process involves:
An independent medical expert in the relevant specialty reviews your medical records and prepares a report on diagnosis, severity, treatment, and prognosis. The report is then cross-referenced against the Judicial College Guidelines and relevant case law to arrive at a general damages range specific to your injuries.
Every financial loss caused by the negligence is documented and calculated:
This two-stage calculation ensures that no element of your loss is overlooked and that the final settlement figure reflects the full impact of the negligence on your life.
Birth injury claims are among the most complex and highest-value medical negligence cases. The figures in the compensation table above (£200,000 to £400,000+ for cerebral palsy) represent general damages only. In practice, birth injury settlements, particularly those involving significant neurological impairment, are far higher once financial losses are included.
Financial losses in serious birth injury cases typically include:
In the most serious cerebral palsy cases, total settlements including all financial losses can exceed £10 million. These cases require a large team of expert witnesses, extensive litigation support, and considerable experience of the NHS Resolution process at the highest level. For more information on catastrophic injury claims arising from NHS negligence, see our serious injury claims page.
“Early legal advice is recommended, as evidence, medical records and witnesses become harder to access as time passes.
You usually have:
In birth injury cases involving a child, the time limit does not begin to run until the child turns 18. However, early legal advice is strongly recommended as evidence, medical records, and witnesses become harder to access as time passes, and early specialist input gives the claim the best possible foundation.
If you lack the mental capacity to make a claim, the time limit may be paused indefinitely until capacity is regained. A litigation friend can be appointed to act on your behalf in such cases.
Many personal injury claims, including medical negligence claims against the NHS, are conducted on a No Win No Fee basis. This means:
This arrangement reduces financial risk and makes pursuing a clinical negligence claim more accessible. Using a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis ensures you can access specialist legal representation without upfront costs.
There is no fixed average. Minor cases may settle for £5,000 to £15,000. Moderate cases with lasting injury can result in £30,000 to £120,000 or more. Catastrophic cases involving permanent disability or serious birth injury can result in multi-million pound settlements when lifetime care costs and financial losses are included. The average payout for clinical negligence claims varies widely and is heavily skewed by the large number of lower-value claims settling alongside a smaller number of multi-million pound cases.
Compensation combines general damages, assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines, with special damages for all financial losses. Keeping a diary of symptoms recording how your injuries affect your daily life, alongside any correspondence from the healthcare facility involved, can also strengthen your claim. An independent medical expert confirms injury severity and prognosis. Financial losses are documented and, in serious cases, calculated with input from care, employment, and financial experts.
You will need to provide medical records, bank statements, payslips, correspondence related to your NHS treatment, and any other documents showing financial losses. Evidence such as medical records and expert reports is critical to prove negligence and quantify damages.
No. The figures are typical ranges based on the Judicial College Guidelines. Every case is assessed individually on its specific facts, medical evidence, and financial losses. The actual settlement in your case may be higher or lower than the ranges shown. A free assessment will give you a more accurate indication.
You are not legally required to instruct a solicitor, but medical negligence claims are among the most complex and technically demanding areas of personal injury law. NHS Resolution is experienced and well-resourced. Independent medical expert evidence, careful causation analysis, and detailed loss calculation are all required to secure a fair settlement. Specialist representation helps ensure your claim is properly evidenced and valued before settlement.
You may claim for errors such as prescription errors, wrong dosage, incorrect or delayed diagnosis, surgical mistakes, hospital-acquired infections, and failure to provide the minimum standard of care. Claims can include physical injuries such as loss of sexual function, loss of a limb, loss of a kidney, serious heart damage, and permanent damage caused by negligence.
If you would like a case-specific assessment of what your claim may be worth, contact us for a free consultation.
For a full guide to making an NHS compensation claim, see our NHS compensation claim page.
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No Win No Fee means you pay nothing upfront and nothing at all if your claim does not succeed. If you win, a success fee is deducted from your compensation. On most personal injury claims we charge 20%, lower than the 25% maximum many firms apply; some lower-value Official Injury Claim portal cases are charged at a different rate, which we always explain clearly before you sign.
The full guide to making an NHS compensation claim, from eligibility to the claims process.
Read Guide →Specialist guidance for catastrophic and life-changing injury claims including brain injury and cerebral palsy.
Read Guide →A comprehensive guide to UK personal injury and medical negligence compensation values by injury type.
Read Guide →Speak with a specialist
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