Medical Defence Union
The world’s first first medical defence organisation, the MDU is led and staffed by doctors with real-life experience and expertise in medico-legal issues, complaints and claims. Since 1885, the MDU have been indemnifying doctors for incidents arising from their clinical care of patients.
Years awarded: 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024
Region: London
Size: 250-999 employees
Sector: Professional services
Creating career pathways to retain employees
Theme: Culture; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; Onboarding; Talent pipeline / Career pathways
Topics: Bespoke training; Customer service / Customer experience; Digital; In-house; Mental health and wellbeing; Neurodiversity; People with barriers; Post-covid recovery
Medical Defence Union (MDU) is a non-profit membership organisation for health-care professionals. As part of the membership offer, members get access to medico-legal advice. In 2018, MDU achieved an Award for its Membership Induction programme and since then the training has been redesigned to ensure there are clear and defined career pathways. Staff retention has continued to increase.
Membership Development Path – Delivering high quality levels of service
Themes: Onboarding; Talent pipeline / Career pathways
Topics: In-house
MDU places a high priority on the quality of service that it provides to its members. To achieve the required service level, member-facing staff must have extensive knowledge and a commitment to deliver a high standard of service. The organisation created its Membership Development Path which has led to a significant improvement in staff retention, reduction in recruitment costs and a 10% increase in member satisfaction scores.
Medico-legal Assistant Training Programme – Upskilling non-medics to continue meeting members’ needs
Themes: Talent pipeline / Career pathways
Topics: Customer service / Customer experience
This members-owned, not-for-profit organisation which provides medical and legal advice to healthcare professionals needed to upskill non-medics to work alongside doctors in order to continue to provide a cost effective service. Through the Medico-legal Assistant Training Programme advisers now support on cases, freeing up medical staff’s time, membership numbers are up and members’ satisfaction scores have increased.
Creating exceptional induction training
Themes: Onboarding; Talent pipeline / Career pathways
Topics: In-house
This organisation, which offers medico-legal advice and indemnity to healthcare professionals, introduced a Membership Induction Programme in 2008 in response to 95% of new membership staff leaving the company within 12 months. Staff retention rates have increased to 88% and membership numbers, employee performance and income have all increased substantially.
Motivating a remote workforce
Themes: Upskilling
Topics: In-house
This not-for-profit medical advice organisation has used internal expertise, communication and support mechanisms to train, motivate and retain a remote workforce. This has led to impressive retention of its homeworkers.
News and case studies featuring the MDU:
Royal recognition for employers who invest in training and development in the UK and Ireland
On Thursday 21 November, 52 recipients from the UK and Ireland were recognised by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal through the Princess Royal Training Awards held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. Over the past nine years, The Princess Royal Training...
52 organisations receive royal recognition for tremendous training and incredible impact in 2024
15 August 2024: City & Guilds has today announced the 52 training programmes that will be recognised by the 2024 Princess Royal Training Awards. Now in its ninth year, The Princess Royal Training Awards continue to recognise organisations who demonstrate...
48 recipients celebrate the Princess Royal Training Awards with HRH Princess Anne
On Thursday 28th April, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, welcomed 48 recipients to Mansion House in London to celebrate them receiving Princess Royal Training Awards for their commitment to training and development in 2021. Currently in its sixth year, The...
46 businesses across the UK recognised by HRH The Princess Royal for excellence in training and development in 2021
HRH The Princess Royal, President of City & Guilds, awards employers who have created outstanding training and skills development programmes which have resulted in measurable business impact over the last 12 months Recipients include those that...
Royal recognition for UK businesses upskilling their employees
We are happy to announce the names of 48 businesses commended by the 2018 Princess Royal Training Awards. The prestigious Awards honour UK companies including River Island, John Lewis, RBS, the Royal Air Force and GSK for their outstanding training and development...
A royal seal of approval for businesses that put employee development first
On Thursday 2 November, we celebrated 40 organisations who were recognised after being commended for their commitment to training and skills excellence by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London. The Princess Royal...
40 organisations to receive royal recognition at this year’s Princess Royal Training Awards
Major UK businesses including RBS, Barclays, and Waitrose have been joined by a women’s refuge and an ambulance trust in being commended by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne for their commitment to training and skills development. The Haven Wolverhampton, which...
