The state-backed scheme is being designed to meet the needs of current and future professionals in general practice, offer affordable cover for these professionals, and offer value for money for taxpayers.

The scheme is intended to cover clinical negligence liabilities of all general practice staff delivering primary medical services commissioned under General Medical Services, Personal Medical Services and Alternative Provider Medical Services contracts and any integrated urgent care delivered by general practice through schedule 2L of the NHS Standard Contract. The scheme will therefore also cover locums engaged in the delivery of these services.

A key objective of the policy is that it contributes to improving retention and recruitment in general practice, therefore increasing workforce capacity and stability, and improving access to general practice services for patients.

The former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Rt. hon. Jeremy Hunt MP) announced in October 2017 that the Department would introduce state-backed indemnity for general practice. The state-backed scheme is being designed to meet the needs of current and future professionals in general practice, offer affordable cover for these professionals, and offer value for money for taxpayers. We are working towards implementing the scheme from April 2019.

We are, and have throughout the development of the proposals for general practitioner (GP) state indemnity been, working closely with key stakeholders including GP representatives and medical defence organisations as the scheme develops. We consider that focused engagement with the relevant stakeholders on the emerging policy direction is a more effective way of ensuring that the representations of those affected are taken into account than via a public consultation.

Information about the scheme for general practice professionals was published online in November 2018 and this will be developed further to ensure professionals understand what the changes mean for them.