First aid and medical insurance
First Aid Insurance
The Scouts Public Liability policy arranged by The Scout Association (as referenced in POR chapter 8) does include cover for the provision of first aid provided by members during Scouts activities.
Members using items such as defibrillators are covered as these are publicly available and designed to be used by anyone in order to provide the emergency assistance required to an individual.
It does not cover the provision of first aid at non Scout events or wider medical treatment.
Additional Public Liability and Medical Insurance
The Scout Association does not carry medical malpractice insurance.
Any Unit, or group of individuals that is established to provide care that is beyond this (either by providing first aid cover at non-member events or by extending the treatment provided to no longer be defined as first aid) will not be covered by the policy and therefore will require their own medical malpractice policy. This may be of particular note for any District/County/National First Aid or District Support Unit
It should be noted that many Health Care Professionals (such as Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics etc) may have their own personal Medical Malpractice cover in place as part of their professional registration, which is unlikely to extend to Groups/Districts/Counties/Areas etc. Trustees and organisers of events and activities must ensure that sufficient insurance cover is held.
Questions and answers
Yes – but the Scout Association policy would not provide cover beyond first aid.
Yes – as the Scout Association insurance policy would not provide cover beyond first aid, if you wish to provide medical cover then additional insurance would be required.
This'll depend on the expectations and needs of the event. For large jamboree-type events, it's likely that the risk assessment for an event of this size will highlight the need for a multi-disciplinary team providing care beyond first aid in which case additional insurance will be required.
Yes - This is not a Scouts activity and is therefore outside the insurance policy cover provided.
No – But you must ensure that the medical provider has sufficient insurance cover for your event.
Please do ask them for help, however their extended skills will not be covered by Scouts insurance.
Unity Insurance offer specialist insurance services to the Scouts. They can provide further advice and guidance regarding insurance cover. You can contact them on 0345 040 7703.