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Welcome to the Medical Defence Shield (MDS) FAQ page. Here you will find brief answers to some of the most common questions we receive from our members and from those wanting to find out more about our services.
Whether you’re curious about our what we cover, or want to find out the difference between clinical defence and medical malpractice insurance, about NHS Category 2 work, or what discounts we offer, you’ll find the information you need here.
The GMC, the GDC and NMC all state that you must make sure that you have adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity arrangements in place, covering the full scope of your medical practice in the UK.
If you work for an NHS Trust or Board, indemnity is generally provided through the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) in England. This applies even if you are a Locum for an NHS Trust (This, however, doesn’t cover your clinical defence). Read more.
In England, general practitioners (GPs) and their staff are automatically covered by the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice (CNSGP) for clinical negligence liabilities that arise from NHS patient care. Read more.
In Wales, NHS GPs are covered by GMPI. If you are a locum GPs in Wales, you might need to be registered on the All Wales Locum Register (AWLR). Read here for more information.
In Scotland, you must ensure you are covered under CNORIS. Read more.
If you carry out any private or independent practice, you must arrange adequate and appropriate insurance or indemnity (even if this work takes place on NHS or HSC body premises). This applies even if the work is in addition to work you do for an NHS or HSC body. If you are treating NHS patients privately, you must check with your NHS or HSC body employer to confirm that indemnity is in place.
You will still need to maintain membership with a medical defence body (MDO) or other provider to cover services such as patient complaints, regulatory (GMC) and disciplinary proceedings, employment and contractual disputes.
For more information on the Clinical Negligence Scheme for NHS Trusts and General Practice, refer to the latest GMC guidelines here.
Yes we offer our services to MAPs (PA/AA/SCPs) through our Associate Plan.
We also have a partnership in place with UMAPs, to provide similar services to their membership.
Please contact us if you require more information on the difference between MDS membership and UMAPs membership.
For any enquiries about UMAP membership, please contact UMAPs directly.
Yes, we have an in-house team of Medico-Legal advisors with clinical experience, lawyers trained to deal with clinical and regulatory matters and employment law specialists.
Thanks to our set-up we can deal with complex cases where more than one type of expertise is needed all in-house.
We do not provide insurance directly, but we can help!
While we do not provide Professional Liability or Medical Malpractice Insurance directly, MDS members can get Medical Malpractice Insurance through our partners at a preferential rate. Enquire today at [email protected]
The GMC is responsible to ensure that doctors meet the necessary standards of practice and conduct in the UK.
They investigate complaints and concerns about doctors’ fitness to practise and if such investigations conclude with concerns about it, they can refer the case to the MPTS.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) is an independent tribunal that assesses a doctor’s fitness to practice medicine. They provide a tribunal service that’s separate from the investigatory role of the General Medical Council.
In summary, the GMC handles the investigation of complaints and concerns about doctors, while the MPTS conducts the hearings to determine the outcome of those investigations.
Section 12 work is always commissioned either by the NHS, or Local Council/Social services as it is a legal process. This means that all S12 work under the mental health act is covered as Category 2 NHS work and it’s therefore included in your MDS membership within the stated limits.
If your income from S12 work (or Cat2 work in general) exceeds what’s included as standard, additional cover can be added for a small cost.
Contact us on [email protected] if you require more information.
All cancellation requests must be made in writing to [email protected]. We are afraid we cannot accept requests made over the phone or through other mediums.
We offer a grace period of 14 days after joining and at the point of renewal, during which it is possible to cancel with no fees or requirement to complete the annual plan.
Past these 14 days periods, members are no longer allowed to cancel and must complete payment for the rest/entirety of the plan (12 months).
We do not offer in-year cancellations or pro-rata refunds.
Our membership provides occurrence-based cover.
This means that you can come to us for advice, representation and support for issues that have taken place or originated while your membership of MDS was active, even if you are no longer a member.
We might be able to assist with issues and events that took place outside your membership period (before you became a member, or after you left MDS), however this assistance will be discretionary and provided at a cost.
We can provide support for issues predating the date of joining MDS, however these will be classed as pre-existing issues, and assistance will be at discretion.
We can only provide our services to MDS members, so you will need to become one before we can help.
Once you have signed up for our membership, our case managers will reach out to review matter to see if and how we can assist.
If you are unhappy with the arrangements proposed by the case managers, you can cancel your membership, and receive a refund of any money paid during the application process, by contacting us in writing within 14 days of your application.
Once you instruct MDS to act in your matter, you will not be able to cancel your membership until the end of its 12 months term.
As stated, they costs advertised on our membership pages are indicative, and can vary depending on your specific needs and circumstances.
When you apply to one of our plans, we will review your application and let you know if there are any changes to your quote. If no changes are deemed necessary, we will confirm the start of your membership in writing.
If we need to make changes to your quote, we will contact you with your new quote, after which you will then have 14 days to decide whether to accept or decline.
After 14 days without contact, your quote will expire and we will cancel your application. Any money already paid, if applicable, will be refunded.
If you are still interested in joining us, you will need to restart the application process.
We review the cost of your membership each year around the time it’s due for renewal.
We look at factors such as changes in your grade or changes in your GMC status, as well as a number of other factors.
If you changed grade, for example, we look at whether your cover is still appropriate or if you need to be moved to a different plan.
Based on our review, your renewal quote could go up or down. We will write to you with your renewal quote around a month before your renewal is due, and you will have a chance to accept it or decline it, or choose a different plan within your grade.
If you decide to decline your renewal quote and wish to cancel your membership, you will require to do so in writing to [email protected].
If you do not contact us, and you pay by Direct Debit, your membership will automatically renew with your new quote.
If you pay for your membership by BACS or by Credit Card, if we don’t hear from you within 14 days from your membership expiry date, your membership will not be renewed and will be cancelled.
Yes, we offer a number of introductory discounts for our partners:
International Medical Graduates on their first NHS placement can apply to receive the first three months their first MDS membership for free.
BAPIO members receive 10% off their first year MDS membership and 5% in their second year.
BINA members can apply to receive the first three months of their first MDS membership for free.
We also offer referral schemes:
MDS members that refer a friend to MDS receive a £20 voucher when they join. Please remind them to mention your full mane when applying.
And we offer a 25% discount for members working 50% or less than full time work.
Terms and conditions apply to all our offers and discounts. Please contact [email protected] for more details.
Yes, but only when upgrading to a higher plan.
Please contact [email protected] for more details.
We accept Debit and Credit Card payments, and BACS.
If you prefer to spread the cost of your membership, we offer Direct Debit option for 12 months at np additional cost.
