NHS GP surgery upgrades: Insurance guidance for practices using the £102m fund

Introduction

If you’re the owner or manager of a GP practice, you may know that the government has recently announced a £102 million investment in GP surgeries across England.

The aims of the funding are to create additional space to see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care.

Around 1,000 GP surgeries (1 in 6) will receive vital funding to respond to the challenges of today’s modern NHS with increasing patient demand.

How are practice owners expected to use the funding?

While the £102 million funding is modest in the context of the entire healthcare system, it represents a crucial step towards addressing immediate needs and improving the infrastructure of GP surgeries. This funding will enable practice owners to:

• Create new consultation and treatment rooms
• Make better use of existing space
• Fulfil over 8.3 million more appointments each year
• Improve patient access to care closer to home
• Enhance staff retention by providing a better working environment

What does this mean for you?

If you’re a practice owner or manager who receives some of the funding to make improvements to your surgery, you’ll probably be thinking about finding a builder and getting quotes.

While there's no harm in doing your research, you might want to consider reviewing your insurance policies at the same time.

If you already have insurance for your surgery, this might mean adding on cover for your upcoming renovation project. If the work is extensive, you might need a new policy, like commercial renovation insurance.

What are the key considerations for insurance?

As practice owners, partners, and managers prepare for the investments, it is crucial to consider the potential impact on your insurance coverage.

Building works can introduce new risks, and your existing policy may not provide adequate protection during this period. It is also likely you will need to review your contents sums insured, buildings value, and if you are tenants, then the cost of the improvements.

To ensure you’re getting the right level of cover for your surgery, you might want to consult an insurance broker to:

• Discuss renovation insurance: Protect against potential damages or liabilities during the works with commercial renovation insurance.
• Explore special terms: Ensure comprehensive protection throughout the project by adding special terms to your policy.
• Review your current coverage: Identify any gaps in your existing policies and agree to review once the funding has been spent on the modernisation of your practice.

How can we help?

As your trusted insurance broker, Wesleyan Financial Services are committed to helping you navigate this transition smoothly, ensuring that your practice is well-protected and prepared for the future.

We can give you the peace of mind that your practice is covered as you go through the next stage and beyond. Speak to a member of the team today to find out how we can help you to insure your surgery.

Wesleyan Financial Services Ltd is a broker and our insurance products are provided by a number of insurers.

Limits, exclusions and charges do apply. Full terms and conditions of the policy and cover, including the policy benefits and exclusions, will be contained in the Policy Wording and Policy Summary. Risk must be acceptable to underwriters at normal term.