NEWSFLASH - Paid for travel vaccinations no longer covered by CNSGP
Dear GP Partners, Managing Partners and Practice Managers,
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS Resolution (NHSR) have confirmed a change in cover provided by CNSGP:
- Travel vaccinations funded by the NHS (for which there is no charge to patients) are covered under CNSGP.
- Travel vaccinations and immunisations for which patients have to pay a charge are not NHS services and therefore not covered under CNSGP.
- NHS England has clarified that 'whilst GMS and PMS contracts allow GP practices to administer and charge for certain vaccinations, when the patient pays for the vaccine or immunisation they are considered private health services, not NHS services.'
- This follows the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) taking legal advice having previously understood that 'vaccinations and immunisations, paid for or not, were NHS services'. However, having considered the issue carefully, the DHSC has 'concluded the administration of paid for vaccinations and immunisations are not NHS services so cannot be in-scope of CNSGP'.
DHSC and NHSE have committed to ensure that any general practice staff who were administering travel vaccinations and immunisations (where patients were charged a fee) and who understood themselves to be covered under the CNSGP for such activities, are not financially at a disadvantage as a result of any claim, or potential claim, against them as a consequence of relying on the incorrect information. In order to mitigate any risk to the health of patients, NHSR will provide assistance in relation to any claim for clinical negligence for the supply and administration of privately funded travel vaccinations for the period between 1 April and 31 July 2019. General practice staff should contact NHSR to access support for such claims.
Claims relating to the supply and administration of any travel vaccinations or immunisations (where the patient is required to pay) provided outside of this period should be reported to your medical defence organisation or indemnity provider.
Commenting on the change of scope, Mark Sanford-Wood, GPC England deputy chair, said “We are concerned that this decision has been made so early in the evolution of the new GP indemnity scheme. It will have clear implications for practices, who may face little choice but to decide to stop providing non-NHS funded travel vaccinations as a result. We have raised this concern with DHSC and highlighted the potential public health risk that may result. It was very unhelpful that this change was announced on the NHS Resolution website without consultation or the profession being notified, and this has been fed back very clearly to DHSC and NHS Resolution. We welcome the decision to confirm that all travel vaccinations will be covered under CNSGP until the end of July, and would urge practices to consider carefully the services they deliver after that date and ensure all of their staff are fully indemnified for all services which they continue to provide.” Read the MDU statement here and this was also reported by GP online.
Please note that ADVICE about travel is regarded as an essential service and therefore that component IS covered by CNSGP.
If practices wish to continue administering vaccinations and immunisations for which patients have to pay, practices will need to discuss cover for this with their MDO and can include this cost in the charge to the patient
Best wishes
Naomi
Naomi Woodhouse, Director of General Practice Contracting & Liaison
Please note my usual working hours are: Tuesday to Thursday 9am – 4.30pm
Norfolk & Waveney Local Medical Committee
Wymondham Medical Centre, Postmill Close
Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0RF
Tel & fax: 01953 608060
Email: naomiwoodhouse@norfolkwaveneylmc.org.uk
Web: www.norfolkwaveneylmc.org.uk
Representing all General Practitioners in Norfolk and Great Yarmouth & Waveney
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