State-backed GP indemnity scheme welcomed
GP leaders have welcomed steps to deliver a new state-backed indemnity scheme in Wales.
The Future Liability Scheme (FLS) will come into effect from April this year and will be run by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, which already indemnifies GPs working out of hours.
The Welsh Government has said the FLS will be aligned to England’s indemnity scheme so that Welsh GPs are not at a relative disadvantage, and to ensure there are no problems with cross-border working.
The scheme will cover GP practice staff and other medical professionals such as salaried GPs, locum GPs, practice pharmacists, practice nurses, and healthcare assistants.
BMA Welsh GPs committee chair Charlotte Jones said: ‘GPC Wales supports the Welsh Government’s decision for Legal and Risk Services to operate the future liability scheme from 1 April 2019.
‘The proposed scheme will address one of the biggest financial pressures on GPs, and will enable all GPs, practice teams and wider cluster healthcare professionals to work more closely together taking forward the transformation of Welsh primary care.’
Wales’ health minister Vaughan Gething said: ‘This new scheme will provide greater stability and certainty for GPs in Wales. It will support GP practices and primary care clusters in their delivery of sustainable and accessible health care.
‘The confirmation of NHS Shared Services Partnership – Legal and Risk Services to operate the FLS scheme has been welcomed by GPC Wales and NHS Wales, who have worked with Welsh Government in developing the scheme.’
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