The Medical Defence Shield (MDS) is a trusted and independently run medical defence organisation, founded by BAPIO in 2010 with a commitment to the welfare of the healthcare community. 2024 was a year of growth, in which we opened our membership to more healthcare professionals. Growth, yes, but without compromising on the signature high-quality service that MDS provides to all of our members.
Now in our 15th year, while continuing to expand our offering, we continue to provide caring, empathetic, and personalised support through our unique service: advising and representing our members on both employment, regulatory, and clinical matters.
Looking back at 2024, we assisted over 300 Doctors and GPs and closed over 300 separatecases, a mix of clinical, regulatory and employment matters. We were delighted that 64% of such cases concluded with a positive outcome.
Of the cases which involved regulatory proceedings by the General Medical Council, with our help, 84% were closed without progressing to a MPTS hearing, and more than 1 in 3 of these were closed at the rule 7 letter stage.
We also helped our members with 23 pre-existing matters, which is something not all Medical Defence Organisations offer as a service. This is when an MDS member approaches us seeking help for something that has occurred before they joined us. While this assistance is discretionary, we pride ourselves on providing assistance where we can.
As mentioned earlier, 2024 was a year of growth, and MDS now also welcomes Dentists, Nurses, Advanced Care Practitioners and other healthcare professionals. Once all membership categories are included, in 2024, we received nearly 650 enquiries from our members.
Our feedback speaks for itself. Last year, we were rated on average 4.8 out of 5 by our members for overall happiness with the service.
Please remember to contact our case managers as soon as possible when you become aware of a potential matter involving yourself. Even if what you need is just a bit of advice and reassurance, our advisors will be ready to help. Alternatively, you can also have a look at our growing collection of case studies, guides, and features, which might offer you useful pointers.
Over half of our members join after a personal recommendation from an existing member. We are grateful to all BAPIO members who are also with MDS for your trust in our services, and for any recommendation you have made to friends and colleagues. Remember, we offer a special membership offer for all BAPIO members, providing a significant 10% discount on your first year with MDS and 5% off your second. On top of the discount, as a way to say thank you, we offer a £20 voucher for each recommendation resulting in a new membership!