What you need to know

All doctors are legally obliged to have adequate and appropriate indemnity in place as soon as they start practising in the UK.

As your medical defence organisation, we can help you where state-backed indemnity cannot. As well as providing indemnity, we offer guidance and medico-legal support with responding to complaints and other problems arising from clinical practice, including coroners' inquests or fatal accident inquiries, as well as criminal or disciplinary investigations.

Find out more about what indemnity is, why you need it and how the MDU can help below.

Frequently asked questions

GMC guidance on indemnity

  • Doctors are legally obliged to have adequate and appropriate indemnity in place as soon as they start practising in the UK.

  • Indemnity arrangements should be adequate and appropriate for the risks and nature of your scope of practice.

  • NHS or HSC indemnity schemes won't be able to provide you with individual advice and help for other medico-legal matters from your clinical practice, such as complaints or disciplinary investigations. Check what support you can get from your defence organisation.

  • As a locum doctor, check your contract carefully to make sure you have adequate or appropriate indemnity in place. Note that NHS or HSC indemnity will only be limited to claims, not other medico-legal support.

Guidance and advice