Dr Matthew Lee, MDU chief executive, said:
"2025 marks 140 years since the MDU was founded and in that time it has grown from supporting a few hundred doctors to counting almost a quarter of a million healthcare professionals as members.
"The MDU's story is one of progress and evolution, and we have been by the side of our members through changing times and changing practices. We were supporting members more than a century before the human genome was sequenced, more than 60 years before the NHS was created, and 40 years before the discovery of penicillin.
"Our members are working in a complex sector where technologies, pressures and expectations are changing all the time. From virtual consultations to robot assisted procedures and AI driven diagnostic tools, today's interactions with patients are a world away from what our founding members might recognise - but the commitment of our members to support the health of patients across the UK will never change.
"As we look back on our 2024 results, I'm incredibly proud of our performance and the outcomes they reflect for our members."
The annual report highlights that during 2024, the DDU closed 53% of dental claims without a payment of damages. Where cases proceeded to trial and concluded in 2024, 80% were successfully defended.
Dr Lee continues:
"Much has changed in the last 140 years, but our core purpose remains - to guide, support and defend healthcare professionals.
"I am hugely proud of everything we have achieved and can say with confidence that our focus is on ensuring we are by the side of our members for another 140 years to come."
This page was correct at publication on 11/08/2025. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.