NOTICE BOARD


Survey highlights quality A RECENT survey of MDDUS members contacting our advisory service found that a majority highly rated the experience – with 80 per cent scoring it a 5 or above on a scale of 1 to 6 from ‘disappointing’ to ‘excellent’. Members contacting the team in regard to a claim or complaint were even more positive about the experience, with 94 per cent rating it a 5 or above. Nearly 200 members responded to the


survey which also asked how satisfied members were with the assistance provided by MDDUS rated on a scale of 1 (disappointed) to 6 (delighted) over four categories: timely manner, informative, professional and empathetic. The average rating in all these categories was 5 or above. The survey also found that 99 per cent


of members who had been assisted with a claim/complaint said they would recommend MDDUS to a colleague. Another separate survey found that among 1,849 respondents using our online application form, the top factor attracting them to MDDUS membership was our competitive subscription rates (60 per cent) followed by recommendations from colleagues (51 per cent). These encouraging results correspond to a continued strong growth in our membership, with an 11 per cent increase in total active membership in 2015 as reported in the latest MDDUS Annual Report and Accounts, published in September of this year. MDDUS CEO Chris Kenny said: “Our


NHS England Winter Indemnity Scheme NHS England has launched a scheme to meet the


costs of indemnifying any additional out-of-hours (OOH) work undertaken by GPs this winter. The scheme has been developed in conjunction with UK medical defence organisations, including MDDUS, and runs between 1 October 2016 and 31 March 2017. It is designed to meet the costs of indemnifying additional OOH work this winter and does not apply to pre-existing indemnity arrangements. GP members interested in accessing the scheme should initially make contact with their local OOH provider to check on likely availability of additional vacant shifts. The OOH provider will then be able to advise whether pre- existing corporate indemnity would cover such work or if additional personal indemnity would be required through the NHS England Winter Indemnity Scheme via MDDUS. GP members should agree with an OOH provider the


likely number of sessions to be worked over the period of the scheme (up until 31/3/17). GPs will then be able to add these additional sessions to their current membership with payment being made directly to MDDUS by NHS England. Go to www.mddus.com/forms/winter for an


application to add additional OOH sessions funded by the scheme.


members rely on us to deliver our services with the utmost professionalism. They rely on us to be responsive – quick, flexible and empathetic. They rely on us to provide good value. We have done all three and will continue to do so. I believe these results demonstrate just how much we have achieved.”


Indemnity for healthcare students


MDDUS recognises that GP practices provide a rich learning environment for a wide range of student healthcare professionals, including medical students, student nurses and physician associate students. Where a student on placement within a


practice is acting in accordance with duties delegated to him or her, the GP partners may be held vicariously liable for negligent harm caused to patients. GP


partners who are members of MDDUS can look to us for assistance, including indemnity for claims that might be brought by a patient. Any indemnity is given through the vicarious liability of MDDUS GP partners and as such, any payments made by MDDUS will be proportionate to a head count of MDDUS members amongst the partners. It should be noted that MDDUS would


not indemnify individual students per se. It is possible that the student could be sued in his or her own right and may need to consider obtaining personal indemnity for complete peace of mind. Similarly, the university or employing Trust is likely to retain a degree of vicarious liability for the student nurse and MDDUS reserves the right to pursue any third party for a contribution if we consider this to be appropriate. Chris Godeseth, head of underwriting, MDDUS


● NEW MDDUS TELEPHONE NUMBERS New contact numbers make it easier for members to get in touch. Contact our main switchboard on 0333 043 4444 and our membership team on 0333 043 0000. The new numbers


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are not linked to a specific geographical area but are charged at the same rate as normal local or national landline numbers (beginning ‘01’ or ’02’). Mobile users whose phone tariff includes free landline calls/inclusive minutes


should not be charged extra for calling our ‘0333’ numbers. ● STUDENT FACEBOOK COMPETITION Calling all medical and dental students – ‘like’ our MDDUS Student Facebook page and you will be entered into


our FREE prize draw to win £50 of iTunes vouchers. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details, as well as all the latest news for medical and dental students. Find our page at www.facebook. com/mddus.student or search


SUMMONS


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