Indemnity Insurance for Locum Vets.

Professional Indemnity Insurance for Vets.

Professional Indemnity insurance is one of the main types of insurance cover required by vets to offset risk and cover against professional negligence and professional misconduct. In the case of a locum vet, professional indemnity insurance protects you should a negligence or misconduct claim be brought against you during or after a locum job placement.

Do Locum Vets need Indemnity Insurance? We strongly recommend, that wherever possible, you obtain your own personal professional indemnity insurance. This works out at around 1-2 days’ locum fees per year.

Most practices have the facility to indemnify named personnel, depending on the reason for the cover. This can cover locums provided that the locum’s name is registered with the insurer for the period of cover. If you are not named on a policy for the dates of any claim, then you are not covered.

There are two potential shortfalls with relying of the practice’s insurance. The locum is often replacing a current member of staff for a set period. When the locum becomes the named person, the original staff member is not fully covered. This could be a problem for the practice in the event that a claim of negligence is brought against the staff member on leave, while they are away, and the main cover has been switched to the locum.

The second shortfall affects the locum should a claim of negligence be brought against him or her, after a locum has ended. The locum is no longer in the service of the practice and the relationship may have broken down over the claim.

In both situations, the practice and the locum are relying on the goodwill of the insurance company and the extent of cover they will provide. Insurance companies are expressing more and more concern that they are underwriting the risk of two individuals for the price of a single premium.

Whenever you undertake a locum position, it is important that you confirm that you have insurance cover, or where necessary, it has been arranged for you by the practice. 

If you plan of making a career as a locum vet, it is strongly advised to arrange your own Professional Indemnity Insurance Polcy to ensure your risk is fully mitigated.

Putting in the work to establish yourself as a self-employed locum vet or veterinary nurse is time well invested. Our veterinary recruitment agency has worked with a number of vets that are new to locumming so if you have any questions, need any advice, or just need pointing in the right direction, then please contact us.