Insurance fears could affect GP treatment

Published on Monday 15 June 2009 22:47

AN INSURANCE wrangle could see some GPs refusing to work if swine flu spreads across the UK, the doctors' union warned yesterday.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said doctors were worried about being sued over the care they provided if infections became widespread, and a lack of "death-in-service" cover.

Dr Dean Marshall, one of the BMA's negotiators on flu planning, said: "Doctors will be putting their lives on the line and it is only right they can feel assured they are properly covered if anything goes wrong. We don't want to be going into it with GPs feeling unsure where they stand. Doctors are only human and some will not want to go on the front line."

Hospital doctors are covered by NHS indemnity insurance, meaning they are protected if sued over the care they provide.

But GPs, who are effectively self-employed, have to make their own insurance arrangements. Some fear this may not cover them adequately during a serious flu outbreak.

Dr Marshall said: "The problem is that the current cover expects GPs to act in a certain way.

"For example, if someone has a heart attack we should send them to hospital, but during the flu pandemic hospitals could be full and this may not be possible.

"Our fear is that later on people may sue us."

GPs also fear that if they were to die on a non-work day, their families would not be entitled to death-in-service payment.

Dr Marshall said: "A locum could die at the weekend and their family might not get a payout. That is not fair and could make some think twice about helping out."

Andrew Clapperton, from NHS Employers, said it was up to GPs to arrange their own indemnity insurance cover.

He added: "We are currently in discussion with both the BMA and the Department of Health to establish how we might best achieve this solution."

Companies around the UK are developing their own plans to cope with the swine flu pandemic, with fears that businesses could be badly affected by large numbers of staff being off sick.

Some have bought up supplies of the antiviral drug Tamiflu for their employees, with the option for staff to purchase more for their families. Medical companies offer Tamiflu for around 50 a course.