Understanding professional indemnity
Importantly, professional indemnity protects you from claims of negligence, malpractice, or errors, covering legal fees, and compensation. In the UK, professional indemnity is a legal requirement under GDC regulations. You will need a policy that meets GDC standards, including sufficient coverage for your work. Policies can be occurrence based, covering incidents that happen during the policy period, regardless of when claims arise. Other policies are claims made which cover claims made during the policy period but require ongoing coverage or run off insurance when you stop practising or move to another indemnity company.
Of equal importance, but not required by law, is the need to have legal expenses cover. This is designed to protect you if you face an investigation from the GDC, your employer if you work for a Trust, coroner's inquiries, and investigations by the NHS. Here, the legal expenses cover payments for expert legal representation from solicitors and barristers where necessary.
When choosing a provider, look for one that specialises in dental professional indemnity and offers support such as legal advice and risk management resources. It is vital that you maintain accurate patient records, communicate clearly during informed consent, and stay updated with UK clinical guidelines to minimise any risks. You should also regularly review your policy to ensure it aligns with your evolving professional needs. This might be in terms of the hours you work or the particular treatments you carry out.
