The uni keep telling us that we need to join the chartered society of physiotherapy, so that we can benefit from their professional liability insurance. Are they taking the piss? Why would students or people employed by the nhs for that matter need professional liability insurance?

Doctors have to, cost my wife a fortune.

Medical defence union etc were free for med students when i was at that stage.

How much is it?

The specialist legal advice can be useful.

Most folk do have now – premiums are tiny ‘cos no one ever gets sued.

However – there is a lot more benefit than that from joining a union. Join unison and get your indemnity thru them

But surely an employer should cover all of that. And a student under supervision should never be in a position where they would need it seeing as they are not being paid and are unqualified.

Stuartlangwilson – are you still at FDRI? I am in neurorehab there from monday for 4 weeks.

I think this cover is good,whether you are fully qualified or a student. The fact they are even suggesting it suggests you should give it serious consideration. Understandably you’d be put off if you are not earning,how much is it may I ask?

I’m in FVRH now. FDRI is partially demolished. At least parking isn’t a problem any more! Take a pack lunch, i don’t think there is any catering on site.

Its still possible to get in a pickle even when supervised, indemnity insurance is generally considered a good idea.

Surrounded By Zulus – Member

But surely an employer should cover all of that. And a student under supervision should never be in a position where they would need it seeing as they are not being paid and are unqualified.

true – and there is no point in sueing you anyway

It’s not expensive, but I have to jump through too many hoops to get it.

SBZ – look at unison. I have indemnity thru them. Its the cheapest easiest way of getting it

Would it not save you from being personally sued ?

let me see. sbz gives duff information on stw based on incomplete information. and then gets sued.

not that your insurance will necessarily pay the damages but it will help with those pesky legal fees. other than that the very notion that the nhs will ‘look out for you’ should you make a mess of it is laughably naive

swiss01 –
Member
let me see. sbz gives duff information on stw based on incomplete information. and then gets sued.

He’s hardly the first…

it’s the world we live in i’m afraid . !! Mine costs £5500 a year and no no-claims bonus allowed….basatards. I’m sure the ambulance chasers are doing well mind!

My next question is this: When did the world go mad? Or more seriously, how did people let the situation arise where you do something wrong at work and your employer doesnt cover you?

situation arise where you do something wrong at work and your employer doesnt cover you?

Why would you employer cover you for something you shouldn’t have done, that would be a mad world.

I’m in the same situation as DrNick, they’ve got you by the balls I’m afraid!

Drac – because everyone makes mistakes. Bus drivers shouldnt crash, but the bus company covers them when they do.

ok 20 years ago there were no no win no fee legal cases and no ambulance chasing. I’ve been practicing for 14 years or so and to date (touches wood +++ and there by the grace of god go I) havent been sued yet. yeah ive had the odd complaint ( usually when telling someone that they are fat and they are slowly killing themselves and they dont like the truth)but nothing serious. However in serious cases claims can run into millions and you can be sued retrospectively- I may have screwed up big time 5-6 years ago and not know about it yet.

However we live in a claims culture society and defending even ridiculous claims is costly. There is also a sector of our society who are looking for a compo payout too and oh so happy to sue. Don’t get me wrong I feel there should be a process to compensate people who have been seriously harmed by medical blunders but so many claims are vexatious and trivial and it all costs money. The only winners are the legal system who are cashing in.

Does compensation culture affect my own practice?- hell yeah. Lots of decisions and referrals to hospital are made just to cover my own arse because as a gp if I screw up it isnt some faceless NHS trust in the dock it’s me and my reputation.

For us self-employed quacks the MDDUS can be cheaper – I only pay £4200… 🙁

But generally NHS employers do cover liability out of actions arising at work. They won’t probably support you when you get done for screwing a patient, or mucking up someones neck when you are drunk at a party, or givin “Sports Massages” with a happy ending… 😉

Drac – because everyone makes mistakes. Bus drivers shouldnt crash, but the bus company covers them when they do

A genuine mistake yes but not when your well out of what you should be doing. Using your example, crashing because he went through a red light they wouldn’t support.

As stoats says, if your within your guidelines and can justify your actions within your expertise then you’ll be fine. Stepping out of these are giving bad treatment or advice without justifiable reason then you’ve had it.

yeah Drac, but the legal process of defending your actions and proving non-neglicence involves lots of legal types stalling and pontificating which costs lots of money and hence big liability cover bills.

It’s not expensive, but I have to jump through too many hoops to get it.

Do you mean that joining the professional body that represents you (and you’d probably have to join anyway) is a bit tough? Is there nothing else you gain from joining as a student other than insurance then?

Tootall – it’s a trade union. They cannot make you join a trade union. Not a hell of a lot that can be gained from it as a student in Scotland. There are a lot of extra hoops that I would need to jump through for one reason or another, and I’m not really a fan of jumping through hoops when I’m not in a hoop jumping mood.

Come on – TJ told you to join a union – twice. Weren’t you listening? 😉

Can’t see the point for a student myself.

yeah Drac, but the legal process of defending your actions and proving non-neglicence involves lots of legal types stalling and pontificating which costs lots of money and hence big liability cover bills.

I know that but your employer will cover it if you’re within there guidelines and policies. If not then your on your own.

SBZ liability compmaies or a Union are optional. Once you qualify you won’t be able to practice unless you join the HPC.

I know that.

Well ultimaely it lies with you what you want to do.

Its not a proper trade union. The simplest / cheapest thing to do is to join unison.