Dr Sarah Townley appointed as Deputy Medical Director at Medical Protection Society

Medical Protection Society (MPS) has announced the appointment of Dr Sarah Townley as Deputy Medical Director.

MPS is the world’s leading medical defence organisation which protects and supports the professional interests of more than 300,000 healthcare professionals.

The Deputy Medical Director works closely with the Medical Director, Chief Member Officer and colleagues across MPS to ensure the services provided meet member needs whilst also acting as a voice of the membership organisation to external stakeholders and governments.

Dr Sarah Townley studied medicine at Leeds University and worked as a General Practitioner in Armley, Leeds, specialising in intermediate care, mental health, and medical student education. She joined Medical Protection in 2009 as a medicolegal consultant, providing legal and ethical guidance and supporting members with complaints, inquests, clinical negligence claims, criminal and regulatory cases.

In 2020, she became Underwriting Policy Lead (Medical), where she developed and reviewed underwriting policy, assessed global best practice and patient safety developments, and led medical stakeholder engagement. In addition, Sarah joined the MPS Foundation as a Board Member.

Commenting on her appointment, Dr Townley said: “I am thrilled to be taking on this new role at MPS. This role will allow me to continue my ongoing commitment to healthcare professionals and representing their interests across the world in the changing healthcare environment.”

Dr Rob Hendry, Chief Member Officer at MPS, added: “Sarah’s appointment as Deputy Medical Director is a great outcome for MPS and for members. This appointment is one of a number of changes we are making to strengthen our connection with members and to ensure the service we provide and the content we develop meet their needs. Sarah’s extensive experience and deep understanding of medicolegal issues will be invaluable as she takes on this new role.”

Dr Sarah Townley will start in her new role on 1 January 2026.

This appointment follows the recent announcement by MPS that Dr Pallavi Bradshaw will re-join the organisation as Medical Director in the new year.

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About MPS

The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”) is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.

MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

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