Our Policy

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A VDS policy provides you with:

Professional indemnity insurance, exclusive to the veterinary profession
A team with unparalleled experience of RCVS/VCI disciplinary proceedings
Highly experienced claims consultants, each of whom is a qualified veterinary surgeon, to handle your claim
Cover for support staff working under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon member
A choice of indemnity limits for professional negligence
Indemnity limits that are applied to each separate incident during a period of insurance (up to the stated aggregate claim limit for that year)
No premium increase as a result of a successful claim.

A VDS policy means:

A minimum £250,000 (€300,000) small animal cover for all insured members.
Built-in £200,000 / €240,000 cover for representation for criminal proceedings resulting from normal veterinary work (cover for RVNs is £150,000 / €180,000).
Built-in £10,000,000 (€12,000,000) cover for personal injury resulting from veterinary negligence.
No premium increase as a result of a successful claim.
A range of Professional Indemnity (PI) limits for each risk group (it is very important that you choose an adequate indemnity limit for each of these. This allows us to defend you and your reputation, and to settle claims when appropriate).

If you would like to apply for the insurance cover we offer, and take advantage of all the benefits of VDS membership, you can request a proposal form from our Membership team by calling +44 (0)1565 652737 or emailing admin@thevds.co.uk

2025 documents

Terms of Business - Please Read (PDF)

About the VDS Policy documents

UK About the VDS Practice Policy 2025

ROI About the VDS Practice Policy 2025

About the VDS Policy for RVNs 2025

Policy documents

UK

UK Practice Professional Indemnity Policy 2025

UK RVNs at a Practice Policy 2025

UK Individual RVN Policy 2025

Ireland

ROI Practice Professional Indemnity Policy 2025

ROI RVNs at a Practice Policy 2025

ROI Individual RVN Policy 2025

2024 documents

Terms of Business - Please read (PDF)

About the VDS Policy documents

UK About the VDS Practice Policy 2024

ROI About the VDS Practice Policy 2024

About the VDS Policy for RVNs 2024

Policy documents

UK

UK Practice Professional Indemnity Policy 2024

UK RVNs at a Practice Policy 2024

UK Individual RVN Policy 2024

Ireland

ROI Practice Professional Indemnity Policy 2024

ROI RVNs at a Practice Policy 2024

ROI Individual RVN Policy 2024

© The Veterinary Defence Society Limited 2021. Registered Office: 4 Haig Court, Parkgate Industrial Estate, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8XZ. Registered in England and Wales no. 2159441. Registered Office: 8th Floor, Block E, Iveagh Court, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2. Registered in Ireland no. 909190. The information and content of this website is intended for registered veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses operating in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland only. The Veterinary Defence Society Limited (trading as VDS Insurance) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Veterinary Defence Society Limited (trading as VDS Insurance) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland as a branch in Ireland.