"For the third year the scheme provides a temporary respite from indemnity costs for GPs working extra out-of-hours sessions"

MDU welcomes winter indemnity support but presses for permanent solution to unaffordable costs

For the third year running, MDU GP members undertaking additional out-of-hours sessions over the peak winter period can apply to have their indemnity costs funded by NHS England.

MDU professional services director Dr Matthew Lee said: “We welcome NHS England’s indemnity support for GPs willing to work additional out-of-hours sessions over the peak winter period.

“For the third year the scheme provides a temporary respite from indemnity costs for GPs working extra out-of-hours sessions. But this can’t continue. Medical inflation continues to spiral, made even worse by the discount rate drop and GPs just cannot afford to pay for indemnity. We urgently need a long-term solution.”

The winter indemnity scheme runs between 1 October 2017 and 2 April 2018. GPs who wish to commit to working additional out-of-hours (OOH) sessions should agree to the sessional commitment with their OOH provider and check that any additional sessions they commit to are eligible to be included in the scheme. Once confirmed, GP members can apply online to add these sessions to their MDU membership.

NHS England have again agreed to reimburse the cost of these additional OOH sessions directly to the MDU.

Visit themdu.com/winterindemnity to find out more information and to apply for indemnity under the scheme.

Ends

The MDU is a not-for-profit organisation wholly dedicated to our members’ interests. Our team is led and staffed by doctors with real-life experience of the pressures and challenges faced in practice.

We offer our members expert guidance, personal support and robust defence in addressing medico-legal issues, complaints and claims. Our customised services range from legal assistance to indemnity to appropriate CPD.

Contact: 

Dawn Boyall, Laura Baker or Thenuka Mahendrarasa in the MDU’s press office

t:     020 7202 1535/1504/1541
m:   07773 772 816/ 07903 192902
e:    dawn.boyall@themdu.com, laura.baker@themdu.com, thenuka.mahendrarasa@themdu.com
w:   themdu.com