Existing Liabilities Scheme agreed for MPS general practice members in Wales

Following extensive negotiations, Medical Protection Society (MPS) and the Welsh Government have reached an agreement that will ensure MPS general practice members in Wales can turn to a state-backed scheme for help with clinical negligence claims no matter when in the future they become aware of a claim or how much that claim settles for.

It sits alongside the General Medical Practice Indemnity (GMPI) scheme for Wales, which is responsible for claims relating to incidents which happen on or after 1 April 2019. The agreement brings MPS general practice members in Wales into line with their hospital colleagues.

A similar existing liabilities arrangement was confirmed for MPS general practice members in England in April 2019.

Howard Kew, MPS Executive Director, said: “This is a positive outcome for MPS general practice members in Wales – it means they will benefit from a similar approach that was taken for hospital doctors when their arrangements were introduced in 1990, and is something we have argued for ever since proposals for state-backed indemnity were announced. We have reached this agreement following constructive and collaborative discussions with the Welsh Government.”

“I am pleased that our general practice members in both England and Wales are now able to turn to a Government backed scheme for help no matter when in the future they become aware of a claim against them.

“To ensure a smooth transition, MPS will continue to manage existing claims for GPs in Wales during an interim period. After this time, claims will be managed by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, which has extensive experience of managing clinical negligence claims on behalf of Health Boards. During this interim period, we will share our specific expertise in the management of general practice claims, so members continue to benefit from high standards of claims management beyond this period. 

“MPS members do not need to make any direct payments to benefit from any aspect of state-backed indemnity as they have already paid subscriptions that reflect the risk that is likely to arise from their practice. The Welsh Government’s previous confirmation that some GPs and others working in general practice will need to purchase additional ‘run-off cover’ does not apply to MPS general practice members.”

“MPS will continue to protect general practice members’ reputations by offering medicolegal advice and assistance for GMC proceedings, complaints, coroners’ inquests, disciplinary matters, criminal investigations and all other issues arising out of their professional practice. Member can also add Claims Protection to their membership which provides the right to request indemnity for clinical negligence claims arising from any fee-paying or private work”.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

As MPS will continue to manage members' existing general practice claims in Wales and England during an interim period, these members should continue to come to MPS about any claims which relate to incidents before 1 April 2019.

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About Medical Protection

Medical Protection is a trading name of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”). 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.