§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if NHS trusts are free to use private sector insurance to obtain clinical negligence cover [89354]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 2 July 1999]: There is no legal impediment to a National Health Service trust using commercial insurance for clinical negligence risks. However, the NHS Executive has always strongly discouraged trusts from doing so on the basis that it does
Date Destination Project 5–9 July Nicaragua and Honduras DFID Projects 19–21 July Sierra Leone DFID Projects 28–30 July Brussels Lome Ministerial meetings 30August–September Bolivia DFID Project 25–27 September Washington IMF/World Bank meetings 29 September New York Ministerial Group on Environment and Poverty Both the Secretary of State's and my diaries for the rest of the year are likely to include speaking engagements and overseas travel which are as yet undetermined.
My ministerial responsibilities involve working from offices in East Kilbride and London.
400Wnot represent good value for money, and trusts have accepted that advice. The Clinical Negligence Scheme for trusts was established to help trusts manage their clinical negligence liabilities. At present all trusts are members of that Scheme.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health from whom the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts has sought reinsurance; and if the reinsurance was competitively tendered. [89355]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 2 July 1999]: The Clinical Negligence Scheme for trusts is a voluntary risk pooling scheme set up under Section 21 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to help NHS trusts manage their clinical negligence liabilities. It is self-funding through annual contributions from member trusts. At present all NHS trusts are members of the scheme. Individual members' contributions are assessed according to the type of services they provide and their past claims history.