A sole practitioner's exposure is different to a multi-site healthcare group. Our specialists take the time to understand your circumstances, specialties, activity level, income and claims history to make sure your policy covers the risks you actually face. We’ll support you through your entire journey, with strong claims advocacy if an incident does occur.
Private hospitals
Clinics
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Specialist treatment centres
Surgeons
Physicians
Dentists
Allied Health Professionals
Cardiology
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Fertility / IVF
Gastroenterology
General Practice
Genitourinary Medicine (Sexual Health)
General Surgery
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Occupational Health
Oncology
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Orthopaedics
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covers claims from a patient who alleges they were harmed by substandard care or treatment.
covers claims that arise from advice, diagnosis or clinical judgement which are separate from the treatment itself.
covers claims from members of the public, visitors or other businesses who are injured or suffer property damage from your business activities.
covers compensation claims from employees or locums that suffer injury or sickness due to their work, and is a legal requirement for most UK employers.
Every policy is different. The protection you need is unique to your circumstances, skills and day-to-day activities. Beyond the core cover offered within all medical indemnity insurance policies, we can also cover the following:
covers legal representation costs if you face proceedings brought by a regulatory or disciplinary body, separate from any negligence claim.
covers representation costs for Fitness to Practise proceedings by your regulator (the General Medical Council, General Dental Council or Health and Care Professions Council).
covers emergency medical assistance you give outside your normal practice, such as responding to a medical emergency in public.
allows you to report claims relating to treatment carried out before your policy ended, such as after retirement or switching providers
covers the costs of responding to a cyber attack or data breach involving patient records or other sensitive data, such as the costs of investigation, notification, and claims from affected parties.
covers legal costs for matters outside a clinical negligence claim, such as employment disputes or contract issues.
covers legal representation costs if you face criminal proceedings arising from your professional activities.
covers the cost of professional representation if HMRC opens an enquiry into your tax affairs.
Many clinicians face a choice between a regulated insurance policy and membership of a Medical Defence Organisation (MDO). Both can have a place, depending on your circumstances. Clinicians with a minimal private practice (e.g. those with private income below £10,000 a year) often find MDO membership more appropriate for the cost, whilst those with a more established private practice tend to favour the contractual certainty of an insurance-backed policy.
The key difference between the two is the response when a claim is made. MDOs generally provide discretionary indemnity, meaning they can decide whether to support a claim and may decline assistance without needing to give a reason. A regulated insurance policy provides contractually certain indemnity: the insurer has a legal obligation to respond when a claim falls within the terms of cover.
Other differences include:
|
Area |
Medical Defence Organisation (MDO) |
Insurance-backed indemnity |
|---|---|---|
|
Basis of cover |
Typically membership-based and discretionary |
Provided under a formal insurance policy |
|
Certainty of response |
Considered case-by-case; may be declined |
Handled per the agreed policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions |
|
Legal obligation |
Generally no contractual obligation to indemnify or defend a member |
Insurer has a contractual obligation to respond where the claim falls within the policy |
|
Regulatory oversight |
Discretionary indemnity is not generally regulated in the same way as insurance |
Provided by FCA-regulated insurers, subject to insurance regulatory requirements |
|
Policy wording |
May have no detailed policy wording setting out precisely what’s covered |
Cover is set out in written policy documentation, including limits, exclusions and conditions |
|
Claims and defence costs |
Assistance is subject to the MDO’s discretion |
Claims handling, defence costs and representation are provided where covered by the policy |
|
Cost considerations |
Cost-effective for those with limited private practice (typically under £10,000 p.a.) |
Premiums are risk-assessed by specialty, activity, income, claims history and limits required. Minimum annual premiums for most doctors/surgeons start at around £2,500 |
|
Claims-made, occurrence and run-off |
Generally not structured as a formal claims-made or occurrence policy; most MDOs offer discretionary occurrence-based cover for individual clinicians |
Medical malpractice insurance is commonly written on a claims-made basis. If cover ends, an extended reporting period or run-off arrangement can be considered so past treatment can still be reported |
|
Best suited to |
Clinicians for whom discretionary protection and cost are the priority |
Clinicians wanting contractual certainty, defined limits and clear policy terms |
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Medical indemnity insurance (also known as medical malpractice insurance) is a policy which covers the cost of defending and settling claims where a patient alleges to be harmed by your care or treatment, responding regardless of whether or not the claim is eventually upheld.
Whether an insurance backed policy or an MDO is the right fit for you largely depends on how much private work you do. If your private income is under roughly £10,000 a year, MDO membership is often the more cost-effective option. Once your private practice becomes more established, most clinicians choose to move to an insurance-backed policy for the contractual certainty it brings, as the insurer is legally obliged to respond to a valid claim whilst an MDO can choose to decline.
Talk to our specialists if you're not sure which cover is best for your circumstances.
Medical indemnity insurance can be arranged to include run-off cover, which lets you report claims relating to past treatment even after your policy has ended (such as after retirement or after swapping to a new provider). It's worth confirming how long that protection lasts under your specific policy, since this varies by insurer and circumstance.
Most medical indemnity policies extend to cover Good Samaritan Acts outside of your usual practice (like responding to a medical emergency in public), but confirm this with your policy documents since the scope (e.g. UK only or worldwide cover) can vary between insurers.
Commonly included within most indemnity insurance policies, GMC, GDC or HCPC representation sits alongside your main insurance to cover the cost of representation in Fitness to Practise matters brought by your regulatory body (e.g. the General Medical Council, General Dental Council or Health and Care Professions Council), separate from a clinical negligence claim itself.
If you’re an NHS employee, the NHS will be responsible for clinical negligence claims which arise as part of your NHS duties, but that cover doesn’t extend to private practice or independent contractor roles. If you conduct private work outside of your NHS role, you’ll need a separate policy to cover this work.
The cost of medical indemnity insurance will vary depending on the type and frequency of the work you undertake, as well as your personal claims history. Annual premiums for most doctors or surgeons are generally expected to start at around £2,500. For an accurate quote tailored to your exact circumstances and needs, get in touch with our team.
Locum staff may be covered for injury during work by their employers liability insurance, but this cover won’t extend to medical indemnity. Locum staff will require their own medical indemnity insurance to ensure full coverage, which is often treated as a contractual requirement.
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