Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to announce proposals for a state-backed GP indemnity scheme; and whether he plans to have a formal consultation on those proposals.

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.