Healthcare Businesses

We can offer insurance protection to a number of healthcare businesses including:

• Clinics                             
• Complementary Therapists  
• Dental Services 
• Diagnostic &/or Imaging Services 
• Equitable Access Primary Care
• Healthcare Consultancy 
• Health Screening & Treatment 
• Laboratories 
• Occupational Health Service Providers
• Out of Hours Service Providers
• Primary Care Providers
• Private Hospitals
• Professionals Allied to Medicine
• Rehabilitation &/or Counselling Services
• Secondary Care Providers
  
  
  

Are you at risk?

In the UK an increasing number of clinicians are forming limited companies to contract out services, both to the NHS and the private sector. They may not be aware, however, that a limited company can be held liable for negligence on the part of its staff. Many doctors now form their own companies, become proprietors of clinics, or work within an incorporated group practice structure. The legal status of the organisation may affect the apportionment of liability in the event of a negligence claim. Patients can bring an action against a company as well as its individual employees, whose professional indemnity (if they have it) is unlikely to extend to protection for the company. In many cases, given the team-based nature of healthcare delivery, patients may prefer to bring an action against a single employing company, rather than having to identify all the individuals involved.

 

Limited Companies

If you have formed a limited company with other medical practitioners for the conduct of your professional practice, the company will be liable for the acts and omissions of independent contractors and of the staff employed by it. If you employ a number of staff, you could be vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of many people. It is important to understand that your personal indemnity arrangements may not protect you financially if a negligence claim is made against you arising from the actions of these staff. Whilst prudent practitioners will ensure that professional members of staff e.g. nurses, radiographers, have their own indemnity arrangements in place it should be remembered that these will be designed to fit their employees' own needs and protect their interests first. They may not coincide with the needs of your company particularly if the patient has chosen to bring an action against both the practice and an employee.