Item 1)

Dear Ms Bruce,

Thanks for your enquiry. I hope that the following points will assist you:

• cover under the RCN indemnity insurance scheme is personal to the member. In other words it protects you against clinical negligence or public liability claims arising from the delivery of a professional nursing service acceptable to the RCN.
• It does not extend protection to a limited company. If you contract with a client in the name of your company, then of course it is only your company that is liable to the patient/client. Accordingly, the scheme will have limited application in those circumstances, unless your company then sues you for an indemnity.
• although the scheme protects members who are both employees and self-employed, the latter are excluded where they 'employ' other health care workers. You mention taking on associates, but in the event that the associate delivers a service in the name of your company, the liklihood is that the company remains liable, even if it subsequently seeks to pass the liability on to the associate. In those circumstances, the RCN's insurers take the view that the member's business is 'employing' another health care worker, and therefore excluded from the scheme.
• I should add that whilst we are unfortunately unable to cover your company under the scheme, you remain covered in relation to any personal liability (e.g. good Samaritan acts etc). Further there are other benefits of RCN membership, over and above indemnity insurance. 

Best wishes,

Chris Cox

Item 2)

The MDU is a mutual, not for profit, organisation owned by our members. Established in 1885, we were the world's first medical defence organisation and have led the way ever since.