The indemnity policy you set up years ago may no longer cover what you actually do

The medical indemnity market changed significantly after NHS Resolution withdrew from covering private work. Most consultants took out a policy and never revisited it. The result is often a product that is either overpriced, under-scoped, or both.

• The primary root cause is the significant market restructuring post-2019, particularly NHS Resolution's withdrawal from covering private work, which led to a fragmented and less transparent indemnity landscape.
• This has been compounded by a lack of proactive engagement from consultants in reviewing their policies, often due to time constraints or a misunderstanding of the evolving market.
• The reliance on discretionary indemnity models, which lack the contractual certainty of insurance, further exacerbates the problem.

Underinsured consultants face significant personal liability for any uncovered claims (Howden, 2026)

• Administrative burden for consultants managing complex and unreviewed indemnity policies
• Reduced consultant availability for private practice due to indemnity concerns
• Increased premium costs for consultants due to lack of market review
• Significant personal financial burden from legal fees and compensation if a claim is not covered
• Delayed or denied patient care due to consultant reluctance to undertake complex private cases
• Increased patient risk if consultants practice outside their indemnity scope
• Damage to individual consultant's professional reputation if involved in an uncovered claim
• Erosion of patient trust in private healthcare due to perceived lack of protection

What it looks like in practice

• Consultants receiving unexpectedly high renewal premiums
• Consultants being unsure about the scope of their private practice cover
• Difficulty in obtaining new private practice work due to indemnity concerns
• Increased anxiety among consultants regarding medico-legal risks