Important information following the announcement of a state backed indemnity scheme in England
23 October 2017
Announcement of state backed indemnity scheme in England
**YORLMC would like to remind GPs of the requirement to maintain full indemnity cover before any change to a state-backed scheme in the future**
On 12 October 2017 the Secretary of State for Health announced that the Department of Health is planning the development of a state-backed indemnity scheme for general practice in England, subject to further work on relevant issues. The Department understands that the rising cost of clinical negligence is a great source of concern for GPs and impacts negatively on the GP workforce, and is seeking to put in place a more stable and more affordable system of indemnity for general practice.
This announcement comes after sustained lobbying and engagement by GPC over many months.
The DH position on the wider aspects of the scheme are set out in an indemnity factsheet (produced in conjunction with GPC) which contains the current assumptions on key areas, including scope and expected timelines. BMA commentary on the announcement is available on the BMA website - Call for more details on indemnity scheme .
The DH is to set up a stakeholder group, and arrange a first roundtable next month with GPC and RCGP representatives. Although many tough discussions and negotiations will lie ahead, the announcement of a state-backed scheme is an important step towards the help that GPs have been calling for.
Following the DH announcement, MDU advised that its membership benefits for GPs working under an NHS England contract who renew/join after 1st Nov will change to ‘Transitional Benefits’ intended to provide the indemnity until a state-backed scheme is introduced. Yesterday the Department of Health directly addressed this offer by amending its indemnity factsheet
For ease of reference the current views/positions of the three MDOs are available below:
Medical Defence Union
Medical Protection Society – and its comment on the MDU offer
Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland – and its comment on the MDU offer
This complex piece of work is at an early stage and this announcement marks the start of detailed work that will involve the GPC to develop DH plans. The intention is to seek to establish any new scheme as quickly as possible, however it is likely to take 12-18 months to develop.
In the meantime and with the above information in mind, we would like to remind GPs of the requirement to maintain full indemnity cover before any change to a state-backed scheme in the future.