Jeremy Hunt pledges ‘state-backed’ indemnity
Speaking at this month’s Royal College of General Practitioners conference Jeremy Hunt announced he is planning to introduce a state-backed indemnity scheme from April 2019.
It will cover all GPs including locums and sessionals, he pledged, saying: “I can give the commitment it will be for doctors working in general practice.”
Shortly afterwards the Department of Health (DH) issued a factsheet. But in a twist to the tale, this was rapidly amended when the Medical Defence Union (MDU) announced that it was halving the cost of renewals after 1 November 2017, the updated factsheet can be viewed here.
The factsheet warns: “Any GP purchasing an indemnity product on a reduced cover basis should make themselves fully aware of the terms under which it is being offered, taking into consideration how they will cover themselves after the period of cover has expired and the cost of run-off cover.”
Medical Defence Union's new indemnity product
The MDU responded by issuing a statement itself. “It took the DH over eight months to reach the position where it could make its announcement on 12 October, and the DH envisages it will take at least 12-18 months to introduce a state back scheme.
“As a result we had to take action to ensure that our GP members could afford indemnity and that claims would be correctly funded pending the introduction of a state backed scheme.
“We are certain the MDU’s Transitional Membership benefits meet the requirements of the GMC for adequate and appropriate indemnity.”
A further area of potential confusion concerns who will be covered by the new state-backed scheme.
Mr Hunt deliberately stopped short in his conference address on whether the scheme would cover all practice staff, saying: “I don’t want to promise something I will have to retract later.”
While the factsheet explicitly states: “The cover would include the activities of practice staff including other medical professionals working for the practice in the provision of these contracted services, and students/trainees working in this area.”
BMA Sessional GP Committee response
The BMA's Sessional GP Committee Deputy Chair, Krishan Aggarwal issued this statement:
"Since the announcement by Jeremy Hunt last week about a state backed indemnity scheme, there have been several statements made about planned changes to indemnity/insurance products by some providers. We remind all salaried and locum doctors to read the terms and conditions of any indemnity or insurance carefully. Ensure you are satisfied that the level and nature of cover is sufficient for your circumstances and your practice. If your indemnity cover is provided by your employer, please make sure you are also clear on any changes they make."
The statement was followed by re-issued blog post explaining indemnity requirements for salaried and sessional GPs.
What is clear is that HM Treasury, General Practitioners' Committee, the Royal College of General Practice and the four Medical Defence Organisations as well as other stakeholders will be involved in the process of developing a scheme.
Londonwide LMCs will share any further information or guidance we receive on this issue as and when the situation becomes clearer.
Last updated : 23 Oct 2017Keeping true to our values while under pressure (26 Apr 2017)
Ahead of our annual conference: 'Under Pressure: stabilise, transform, and sustain general practice for London', Dr Michelle Drage takes a look at some of the challenges facing London general practice....Londonwide LMCs' April 2017 newsletter (26 Apr 2017)
Half day closing and extended hours (25 Apr 2017)
Section 4 Part 9 of the Primary Medical Services (DES) Directions 2017/2018 indicates that from October 2017 practices that regularly close for a half day, on a weekly basis, will...Submission to APPG enquiry on demand in primary care (22 Apr 2017)
We have now submitted our response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Primary Care and Public Health’s inquiry into managing demand in primary care. Our submission focused on the following...Guest blog: how can the new GP Retention Scheme help you and your colleagues (22 Apr 2017)
Our Medical Director Dr Vicky Weeks looks at the new GP Retention Scheme, which she helped negotiate as a member of the BMA’s Sessional GPs’ subcommittee. Overworked? Exhausted and can’t...New locum pension forms for 2017-18 (22 Apr 2017)
The Employers contribution for the NHS Pension scheme has increased from 14.3% to 14.38% as of 1 April 2017. The NHS Pension Agency is has issued new Locum A and B...Changes to the 2017/19 NHS Standard Contract (22 Apr 2017)
NHS England has accepted a number of changes for the new NHS Standard Contract, most notably: Results of investigations requested by hospital clinicians should be communicated by the hospital...Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards deaths - automatic coroner referrals end (04 Apr 2017)
From Monday 3 April 2017, it is no longer necessary to refer all patients who die while subject to an authorisation under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to the...Practice managers - is your appraisal useful? Do you feel valued? (23 Mar 2017)
Practice managers have been recognised in the General Practice Forward View and NHS England have funded a new project to train practice managers to be appraisers. Londonwide LMCs is pleased...Budget 2017 (22 Mar 2017)
Rt Hon Theresa May MP’s first and final Spring 2017 Budget as PM was delivered on Wednesday 8 March. Future Budget statements will be delivered in the Autumn to allow...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.
follow us on...
