Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they have ensured value for money in respect of the establishment of the new state indemnity scheme for general practice operated by NHS Resolution.

The costs NHS Resolution incur in 2019-20 in relation to general practitioner (GP) indemnity (including oversight arrangements prior to establishment of the Existing Liabilities Scheme for General Practice in April) will be reported in the 2019-20 annual accounts of NHS Resolution, once the audit process for the costs is complete.

An Impact Assessment was carried out for the introduction of the state indemnity scheme for general practice. The state scheme provides the best balance of costs, benefits and risks as it provides a more affordable system that can reduce costs for GPs and remove a barrier to GP recruitment; gives the Department more control over the impact of increases in the cost of clinical negligence on GP incomes; and in moving discretionary cover to the Government brings arrangements into line with the position of clinicians in National Health Service trusts.