Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice insurance
Cover for claims against the University arising as a result of clinical malpractice (including clinical errors, clinical omissions and clinical negligence).The cover extends to University staff carrying out their normal duties, but excludes clinically qualified staff (defined by the insurers as surgeons, physicians, doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives).
Limit of liability: £1,000,000 per annum. Excess: £20,000 per claim.
The Insurance Office must be notified of any incident or circumstance that may lead to a claim being made against the University.
Clinically qualified staff
The insurance policy requires the University to use its best endeavours to ensure that all clinically qualified staff currently engaged in clinical practice maintain individual cover:- By belonging to and subscribing to:
- the Medical Defence Union or Medical Protection Society or other equivalent organisation (in the case of a surgeon, physician, doctor or dentist), or
- the Royal College of Nursing or Royal College of Midwives or other equivalent organisation (in the case of a nurse or midwife); or
- by being otherwise insured under a policy of insurance against their own malpractice, professional errors, omissions or negligence with a limit of indemnity no less than £1,000,000; or
- by working only under a contract or contracts with the NHS that provide cover under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts.
Clinically qualified staff not engaged in clinical practice
The requirement for clinically qualified staff to arrange their own cover does not extend to clinically qualified staff who are not currently engaged in clinical practice (e.g. researchers).Work involving research on human subjects is covered under a separate clinical trials insurance policy.
Cover is provided for treatment given on an unplanned first aid (or "Good Samaritan Act") basis by clinically qualified staff who are not normally engaged in clinical practice.