What are the insurance needs of a Primary Care Network?

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A Primary Care Network (PCN) is a group of general practices working together, typically serving a population of 30,000 to 50,000 patients to focus on local patient care. These networks were introduced in 2019, to strengthen primary care and integrate services across the NHS, improving the coordination and delivery of primary care services.

They enable healthcare professionals to work collaboratively, share resources, and offer a wider range of services than individual practices could provide alone.

A PCN may have multiple practices and many employees to manage across its network. PCNs are exposed to a range of potential liability claims.

Given the complexities of healthcare regulations, which are constantly evolving, PCNs are potentially exposed to penalties for non-compliance. Therefore, PCNs require robust insurance coverage tailored to their specific needs.

We have developed a tailored PCN Insurance Package to cover:

• Professional Indemnity
• Management Liability
• Employers Liability & Public Liability Insurance – to cover any gaps for those working on behalf of the PCN, across practices
• General Buildings & Contents All Risk Cover

You can read about insurance implications for Primary Care Networks here

Individual insurance needs

Each Practice or Partnership within the Federation will hopefully have its own Practice Insurance. Some PCNs may decide to become incorporated and operate as a Limited Company.

Insurance needs to consider:

Professional indemnity

Professional indemnity is important for any clinical director who is making decisions that relate to the business, be that a strategic or policy decisions, or implementing standards of practice.

Clinical Directors need Professional Indemnity cover to protect themselves as individuals, as does their employing entity.

Professional Indemnity will provide cover for negligence or breach of duty to use reasonable care and skill:

• if you fail in a duty of care to your client, perhaps giving incorrect advice or making a mistake in your work;
• where financial loss has been suffered as a result of the contracted services. This is above and beyond the cover available via Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice.

Management Liability; This provides protection in respect of claims which could arise from the day to day running of a healthcare business.

This will be things which are non-clinical related or have occurred outside of direct injury from treatment.

There is so much which could affect a healthcare business whether it be regulatory, health & safety, contractual disputes, data breaches, environmental, tax issues or employment grievance including unfair dismissal.

Therefore, the decision makers within the business need to ensure they are adequately covered.

This policy will pay for the defence costs of any litigation brought against a member of the board, or any managers I.e., Finance Directors, Clinical Leads, Compliance Managers, PCN Managers and the like.

Similarly, it offers cover for any claims directed at the business or limited company. This will also cover any awards for settlement where liability has been proved.

Directors & Officers Insurance / Company Legal Liability

Protects the board and all managers officers in a position of responsibility for claims which stem from the day to day running of business.

Such as any allegations of wrongdoing for the decisions which they may have taken on behalf of a business. This can come from regulators, patients, suppliers, or employees.

Employment Practice Liability

This cover comes into play where there is a claim of violation of employees’ rights such as unfair dismissal, an employment tribunal or allegation of discrimination.

It is important in today’s working environment, as employees are increasingly inclined to take legal action.

Employers Liability and Public Liability Insurance

This is designed to cover any gaps for those working on behalf of the PCN, who may be shared across practices.

Most staff employed come from funding known as Additional Roles Reimbursement scheme (ARRS). PCNs need to ensure they are adequately protected as they are shared throughout the network undertaking work which is above and beyond that of their own standard GP practice contract.

So, this activity will also fall outside of the remit of their day-to-day GP practice insurance cover.

Premises or property cover

Most PCNs are made up of practices who already have their own practice insurance so they will be protected.

The majority of PCNs will work from an established practice. Those who do not have their own offices or site can get insurance to cover personal effects and equipment such as printers or laptops.

Cyber Insurance

In today’s digital age, cyber insurance is crucial to protect sensitive patient data from cyber threats and data breaches, so this cover is an additional consideration to sit alongside the other insurances.