Why Every Surgeon Needs More Than Indemnity Cover

03 August 2026

Clinical Indemnity Protects Your Practice – A Trade Union Protects Your Career

Many surgeons and members of the wider surgical team believe that their professional indemnity arrangements will support them whenever difficulties arise at work. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common misunderstandings in modern healthcare.

Professional indemnity is designed to protect you against claims arising from your clinical practice. It is not designed to protect your employment rights or provide representation when disputes arise with your employer.

At the Confederation of British Surgery (CBS), we regularly hear from surgeons and surgical professionals who discover this distinction only after they have become involved in disciplinary proceedings, workplace investigations or disputes with colleagues. By then, valuable time has often been lost.

What Does Clinical Indemnity Cover?

Medical indemnity is intended to provide protection for matters arising directly from your clinical practice, including:

Clinical negligence claims.
Allegations relating to patient care.
Regulatory investigations connected to clinical practice.
Claims arising from treatment decisions or patient outcomes.

These arrangements exist to protect clinicians against liabilities associated with delivering healthcare.

What Doesn't It Cover?

Many of the issues that have the greatest impact on a surgeon's career are employment matters, not clinical matters.

Professional indemnity will not usually provide representation or legal assistance for issues such as:

Disciplinary investigations.
Capability or performance management procedures.
Workplace grievances.
Bullying or harassment.
Discrimination claims.
Contractual disputes.
Whistleblowing concerns.
Unfair dismissal.
Conflicts with colleagues or managers.
Restructuring, redundancy or organisational change.

These are employment issues that require specialist workplace representation.

What About NHS Crown Indemnity?

There is also widespread misunderstanding about NHS Crown Indemnity.

Crown Indemnity protects NHS organisations against claims arising from clinical negligence during NHS treatment.

It does not provide representation for employment disputes, including:

Internal disciplinary procedures.
Grievances.
Workplace investigations.
Bullying or harassment complaints.
Contractual disputes.
Discrimination claims.
Unfair dismissal proceedings.

Crown Indemnity protects clinical liability not your employment rights.

Why Trade Union Membership Matters

The modern NHS is a challenging place to work. Increasing service pressures, organisational change and complex workplace dynamics mean that even highly respected surgeons can unexpectedly find themselves involved in formal employment processes.

When that happens, having experienced workplace representation from the outset can make a significant difference.

The Confederation of British Surgery exists to protect the professional and employment interests of surgeons and the wider surgical team.

Our members have access to support and representation across a broad range of employment matters, including:

Disciplinary and capability proceedings.
Grievances.
Workplace investigations.
Bullying and harassment.
Employment contract advice.
Whistleblowing support.
Equality and discrimination matters.
Organisational change and restructuring.
Redundancy consultations.

Just as you would never undertake complex surgery without the right support around you, you should never face an employment dispute alone.

Protect Yourself Before You Need It

One of the most important principles of trade union membership is that support should be in place before problems arise.

Joining a union after disciplinary action has begun or an investigation is underway may limit the assistance that can be provided. Early advice is often the key to resolving concerns before they escalate into formal proceedings.

Having independent representation from the outset helps ensure your rights are protected throughout the process.

The Confederation of British Surgery

The Confederation of British Surgery (CBS) is the UK's trade union dedicated exclusively to surgeons and the wider surgical team.

We understand the unique professional pressures faced by those working in surgery because our organisation exists solely to represent your interests.

Clinical indemnity remains an essential safeguard for every surgeon, but it is only one part of your professional protection.

To protect your career, your employment rights and your professional future, you also need independent workplace representation.

Clinical indemnity protects your practice. CBS protects your career.

Join the Confederation of British Surgery today and ensure that if workplace difficulties arise tomorrow, you already have experienced professionals standing beside you.

Read other news articles