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Thinking about private practice?

As an NHS consultant or specialty trainee thinking about starting in private practice, there are lots of things you need to consider before making the move. But don’t let that put you off becoming a private doctor.

We understand the challenges you face, and we want to help you to feel confident moving into a new field.

If you are setting up or moving into private practice, you will need affordable protection from a provider you can trust. Get the protection your career deserves and the support you need.

 

Private Practice guidance

Medical Protection, in partnership with specialist medical accountants Sandison Easson, has put together a set of guides with the information you need to set you on the path to a new future in private practice.

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Articles and features 12/09/2022

A roundup and our top tips for building a successful private practice

A roundup and our top tips for building a successful private practice

Time to read article: 3 mins
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Starting private work may seem daunting but spending the time to plan and understand how to trade in this medical sector should ensure you build a successful practice. In the last of this series, we recap on the key points to consider and provide top tips for building your private practice.

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Articles and features 21/06/2022

Tax-related pension considerations

Tax-related pension considerations

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Despite the changes in recent years, being a member of the NHS Pension Scheme should still provide you with a secure retirement. These changes require you to work longer than previous generations, but the level of contributions payable for the return is still attractive. This article explains some of the recent pension changes and important pension tax-related matters.

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Articles and features 21/06/2022

The Tax System Explained

The Tax System Explained

Time to read article: 5 mins
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If you’re just starting out in private medicine, you may only have come across the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system, which tends to look after itself. When you’re running a business, you will have additional requirements to register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), earnings to declare under Self Assessment, and taxes to pay directly to HMRC.

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Articles and features 14/04/2022

Trading structure

Trading structure

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When starting in private practice, how you are structured for tax purposes is an extremely important decision. Picking the most appropriate trading structure for your individual circumstances will ensure you are tax efficient and maximise the return on your hard efforts. This article looks at the more common trade structures adopted for private work.

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Articles and features 13/04/2022

Running a business

Running a business

Time to read article: 5 mins
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One of the main factors to consider when you start out in private practice is that you are running a business. It sounds obvious, but with little or no financial training it is easy to fall into the trap of not running your private practice like a business, and this almost always leads to financial loss. The second article in this series looks at the practical steps required to run your private practice as a business.

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Articles and features 01/11/2021

Starting private practice

Starting private practice

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It is never too early to be thinking of whether you will undertake private work when you have secured your substantive consultant post. This is the first in a six-part guide to starting out in private practice to help you to hit the ground running when the time comes.

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How Medical Protection can help

If you do take the leap into private practice, a key relationship will be with your medical defence provider. Being a member of Medical Protection means you have the support you need to safely grow your private practice into a successful business.

NHS indemnity schemes understandably don’t cover private work, so it’s essential that as a private practitioner you have adequate indemnity.

Medical Protection membership provides protection and more, with benefits including:

  • the right to request advice and legal representation for coroner's inquests, disciplinary and regulatory proceedings, and criminal investigations related to your professional practice
  • the right to request indemnity for clinical negligence claims and Good Samaritan acts worldwide
  • a medicolegal advice line, including out of hours emergency support 24/7. Calling won’t increase the price you pay
  • help responding to and resolving patient complaints.

Plus, you’re off to a flying start with protection for private work if you’re a speciality trainee member with earnings of up to £10k.

Advice from our experts


You’re busy and we know it is a challenge to fit in training and development. Our online resources are full of private practice advice and tips from our experts, and can be accessed at a time and place to suit you:

Articles and features 08/09/2022

Don’t you know who I am? Treating patients in the spotlight

Don’t you know who I am? Treating patients in the spotlight

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Doctors who treat high-profile patients face a unique set of challenges when it comes to ensuring they receive the best possible care. Dr Anthea Martin investigates these issues and offers advice on how doctors can protect themselves, as well as the patient.

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Factsheet 08/09/2022

Professional boundaries

Professional boundaries

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The doctor−patient relationship is based on trust. The GMC’s Good Medical Practice section on professionalism says that good doctors are “honest and trustworthy, and act with integrity and within the law.”

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Articles and features 11/08/2022

Reducing the risks that come with remote handovers

Reducing the risks that come with remote handovers

Time to read article: 5 mins
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Communication between clinicians during a patient handover is a known point of medicolegal risk. Dr Sarah Coope, Senior Medical Educator at Medical Protection, looks at how gaps in information, misunderstandings and assumptions can increase the risk of errors, conflict and complaints.

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Articles and features 11/08/2022

Managing timetable conflicts

Managing timetable conflicts

Time to read article: 3 mins
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When carrying out NHS and private practice work, it’s important to ensure that the needs of both your private patients and your NHS patients are met. Dr Heidi Mounsey, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at one potential scenario and offers some guidance.

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Articles and features 17/05/2022

Confronting fears of openness

Confronting fears of openness

Time to read article: 6 mins
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Talking to patients when something goes wrong is a skill that will constantly develop throughout your clinical career. Medical Protection outlines what to do when a patient safety incident occurs.

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Articles and features 09/05/2022

Uncovering product liability pitfalls

Uncovering product liability pitfalls

Time to read article: 3 mins
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Introducing product liability into a clinical negligence claim can add extra intricacy to a case. Medical Protection discusses how this might affect the involved clinician.

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Articles and features 09/05/2022

Conducting private work in the NHS

Conducting private work in the NHS

Time to read article: 5 mins
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Medical Protection outlines how private practice works in conjunction with working in the NHS

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Articles and features 07/04/2022

Dealing with media enquiries about your patients

Dealing with media enquiries about your patients

Time to read article: 1 mins
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Not only is it important to be well equipped to deal with the challenges and pitfalls that might arise unexpectedly, but also to be prepared to speak to the press or deal with media enquiries following a patient’s treatment.

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Articles and features 07/04/2022

Risky Business: When patients ignore the risks

Risky Business: When patients ignore the risks

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Dr Gabrielle Pendlebury, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, advises on how best to manage a scenario where a patient doesn’t want to know the risks

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Articles and features 07/04/2022

Consent and alternative treatment options

Consent and alternative treatment options

Time to read article: 5 mins
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High profile cases have put the spotlight on the consent process and clinicians are increasingly aware of the risks; however, Medical Protection data shows a number of claims alleging that a clinician failed to explain alternative treatment options. Dr Emma Green, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at the case law surrounding therapeutic options, GMC guidance on consent, and how these impact on the information provided to patients during the consent process.

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Articles and features 07/04/2022

The eight principles of person-centred care

The eight principles of person-centred care

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Time to refresh yourself on the eight core pillars of person-centred care.

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Articles and features 16/03/2022

Junior consultants moving to the private sector

Junior consultants moving to the private sector

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Here are some frequently asked questions about making the big move into private practice, answered by Medicolegal Consultant, Dr Karen Ellison.

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