Medical indemnity designed for ENT surgeons
Tailored medical indemnity insurance for ENT UK members, from healthcare insurance specialists.
Medical indemnity helps protect you against claims arising from your work in private practice. Howden provides ENT UK members with access to tailored medical indemnity insurance, supported by healthcare specialists who understand the risks facing consultants.
Unlike discretionary indemnity provided by an MDO, insurance offers contract-certain cover. Where a claim meets the terms and conditions of your policy, your insurer has a contractual obligation to respond.
Medical indemnity insurance can cover claims of clinical negligence or malpractice, including eligible legal defence costs and compensation you become liable to pay.
For consultants in private practice, having appropriate insurance or indemnity arrangements in place helps protect work that falls outside NHS indemnity arrangements.
Key cover features available through Howden
A claims-made insurance policy, with various limits of indemnity available
24/7 medico-legal helpline and claims reporting
Defence costs for claims covered by the policy, whether or not the claim is upheld
Defence costs for disciplinary proceedings
Professional indemnity cover for review boards and expert reports
Breach of confidence and defamation cover
Cover for medico-legal reports
Up to 25 years’ run-off cover
A safety net for anyone transferring from a Medical Defence Organisation (MDO)
Good Samaritan acts, covered worldwide
Fitness to Practise cover sits alongside your medical indemnity policy, adding legal costs protection, 24/7 consumer-legal and medico-legal advice lines and a counselling assistance line
Contract-certain cover vs. discretionary cover
We know insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all and yours shouldn’t have to be. It should adapt with you across your career. The key difference between Howden and a Medical Defence Organisation (MDO) comes down to this: Howden policies are contract-certain, while MDOs offer discretionary indemnity.
Not sure what “contract-certain” actually means for you? Watch the short explainer video, then see exactly how it compares to MDO cover.
Can’t see the video? Watch it on Vimeo
Contract-certain (Howden)
Your cover is set out in an insurance policy. Where a claim meets the policy terms and conditions, the insurer has a contractual obligation to respond.
Discretionary (MDO)
Assistance is provided at the discretion of the mutual as a benefit of membership, rather than as a contractual right.
Support beyond medical indemnity
Running a successful private practice involves more than clinical expertise. Consultants also need to consider regulation, finances, business structure, administration, patient experience, technology and long-term growth.
Howden’s support for ENT UK members is designed to help consultants navigate these non-clinical aspects of private practice. Resources and specialist partner support may cover areas such as:
Practising privileges and regulatory considerations
Financial planning and business structure
Medical indemnity and risk management
Practice management systems and billing
Marketing and patient acquisition
Strategic planning and sustainable growth
Professional networking and development
Diagnostics, digital tools and patient access
Whether you’re considering a move into private practice or looking to grow and strengthen your existing one, Howden’s private practice pathways are designed to support you every step of the way.
Sign up for private practice support
Who is Howden?
100+
Health & Care experts
43,000+
Health & Care clients
Howden is a specialist insurance broker and adviser with dedicated expertise in healthcare. With more than 100 Health & Care experts supporting over 43,000 Health & Care clients, Howden understands the risks and challenges healthcare consultants face.
Its specialist teams combine healthcare sector knowledge with access to the wider insurance market, helping consultants find cover that reflects how they operate today and how their business is evolving – so you can understand your risks, navigate your options and make informed decisions about your insurance.
What ENT UK members say
I’ve worked with Simon Gale at Howden for several years now, and he’s always been a great support when it comes to my insurance. As an ENT surgeon, I need to know my cover is right for the work I do, and Simon makes the whole process straightforward. He explains things clearly, responds quickly, and makes sure everything is in place without it becoming a burden on my time. It’s reassuring to know I can rely on him, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to other medical colleagues.
As a client of the Howden Group, I was delighted to be introduced to Simon Gale and Mark Thomsen who head up the UK Doctors Medical Indemnity Department. I was very aware of the ongoing Government Consultation and was delighted to meet two individuals who really understand the insurance market and are dedicated to offering doctors bespoke products that meet their individual requirements. They have been key in reaching an agreement with ENT UK to become the preferred partners for Indemnity cover. I would have no hesitation in recommending Simon, Mark and Howden Insurance Brokers.
Like many of my colleagues, I had been a member of one of the Medical Defence Organisations since qualifying. However, it was brought to my attention that there were benefits in obtaining contract certain indemnity rather than relying on discretionary indemnity offered by MDOs. I was introduced to Simon Gale at Howden and he arranged a Medical Indemnity insurance and fitness to practice cover that not only give me comfort that I am fully covered but also come at a highly competitive price compared to my previous arrangements. I am extremely grateful to Howden for their excellent service and would strongly recommend them.
I’ve worked with Simon Gale at Howden for several years now, and he’s always been a great support when it comes to my insurance. As an ENT surgeon, I need to know my cover is right for the work I do, and Simon makes the whole process straightforward. He explains things clearly, responds quickly, and makes sure everything is in place without it becoming a burden on my time. It’s reassuring to know I can rely on him, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to other medical colleagues.
As a client of the Howden Group, I was delighted to be introduced to Simon Gale and Mark Thomsen who head up the UK Doctors Medical Indemnity Department. I was very aware of the ongoing Government Consultation and was delighted to meet two individuals who really understand the insurance market and are dedicated to offering doctors bespoke products that meet their individual requirements. They have been key in reaching an agreement with ENT UK to become the preferred partners for Indemnity cover. I would have no hesitation in recommending Simon, Mark and Howden Insurance Brokers.
Like many of my colleagues, I had been a member of one of the Medical Defence Organisations since qualifying. However, it was brought to my attention that there were benefits in obtaining contract certain indemnity rather than relying on discretionary indemnity offered by MDOs. I was introduced to Simon Gale at Howden and he arranged a Medical Indemnity insurance and fitness to practice cover that not only give me comfort that I am fully covered but also come at a highly competitive price compared to my previous arrangements. I am extremely grateful to Howden for their excellent service and would strongly recommend them.
I’ve worked with Simon Gale at Howden for several years now, and he’s always been a great support when it comes to my insurance. As an ENT surgeon, I need to know my cover is right for the work I do, and Simon makes the whole process straightforward. He explains things clearly, responds quickly, and makes sure everything is in place without it becoming a burden on my time. It’s reassuring to know I can rely on him, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to other medical colleagues.
As a client of the Howden Group, I was delighted to be introduced to Simon Gale and Mark Thomsen who head up the UK Doctors Medical Indemnity Department. I was very aware of the ongoing Government Consultation and was delighted to meet two individuals who really understand the insurance market and are dedicated to offering doctors bespoke products that meet their individual requirements. They have been key in reaching an agreement with ENT UK to become the preferred partners for Indemnity cover. I would have no hesitation in recommending Simon, Mark and Howden Insurance Brokers.
Like many of my colleagues, I had been a member of one of the Medical Defence Organisations since qualifying. However, it was brought to my attention that there were benefits in obtaining contract certain indemnity rather than relying on discretionary indemnity offered by MDOs. I was introduced to Simon Gale at Howden and he arranged a Medical Indemnity insurance and fitness to practice cover that not only give me comfort that I am fully covered but also come at a highly competitive price compared to my previous arrangements. I am extremely grateful to Howden for their excellent service and would strongly recommend them.
Contact Howden
Howden’s services are available to ENT UK members who choose to use them. To discuss medical indemnity or support for private practice, get in touch: