MDU ceases to cover private spinal surgery

The Medical Defence Union, which claims to be Britain’s largest provider of medical indemnity cover to doctors, is withdrawing support for spinal surgery in private hospitals, blaming the prohibitive cost of claims.

The decision will not affect such operations in the NHS, which runs its own indemnity scheme, but NHS consultants who also work in the private sector will have to find a new provider for cover when their existing contract with MDU runs out. Without indemnity cover they will be unable to work in the private sector.

Fiona Booth, chief executive of the Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations, told The BMJ, “Private hospitals do not employ consultants but offer them practising privileges. Every hospital will have its own set of terms and conditions, but all will include the obligation to hold medical indemnity …