You can apply and pay individually to increase the basic limit of £5m cover per claim to £10m per claim. This top-up is also offered as part the membership packages of the PhysioFirst and AACP professional networks. The top up in cover applies to all areas of physiotherapy work, except the treatment of animals and of certain professional footballers.
The CSP PLI scheme is for members working as individuals either as sole traders or sole-trader limited companies. The CSP recognises that many members operate small businesses which will need bespoke medical malpractice insurance to cover the business’s professional liabilities. See our Hot Topic on Running a Business.
All businesses may still need other types of insurance and you must take appropriate advice about your individual business needs. Read the Guide to Business Insurance Cover provided by Graybrook.
For more information see the CSP Business Insurance Information Sheet provided by Graybrook.
There are many other types of insurance that you may need to take advice on. Common ones include Employers Liability Insurance, Occupiers Liability Insurance, and Public Liability cover for your workers, or Event Insurance. These are not included with the main CSP PLI.
The CSP PLI scheme does not provide any cover for any criminal proceedings brought against members. In rare circumstances, members may be investigated for criminal offences relating to sexual offences or other criminal matters, either in connection with their work or separate to it.
For members in England and Wales, following changes to the Legal Aid scheme the CSP no longer pays for members’ criminal defence costs at either Magistrate’s or Crown Court.
Members living in Scotland and Northern Ireland are not affected by these changes and the defence costs of being represented in the Magistrates and Crown Court may be met by the CSP under Legal Aid.
Find out about additional Criminal Defence Costs Cover provided by Graybrook.
You will need separate medical malpractice insurance if you want to treat animals. The main CSP PLI scheme does not provide cover for work with animals. If you only work with animals you do not have to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This is because the HCPC only regulates physiotherapists who work with humans. If we ask you for your HCPC number to confirm your eligibility to be in a full-practising CSP membership category, please confirm to us that you only work with animals.
Chartered physiotherapists working with animals do benefit from the Public Liability Insurance policy as this covers all areas of work.
Be a CSP member in a 'full-practising' category of membership. If you only work with animals remember to declare your exemption from mandatory HCPC registration to the CSP.
Be a member of ACPAT in Category A or Category B.
If you are not an ACPAT member you must find your own alternative cover.