A package of support for doctors – the equivalent of the next two months of membership for free – has been announced by the Medical Protection Society (MPS).
MPS membership provides a range of benefits including the right to request indemnity for complaints or claims arising from professional practice.
Members who are GPs or consultants working in the private sector will benefit from two month’s subscription relief. These doctors will automatically receive a payment into their bank account that is equivalent to two months’ subscription. MPS also confirmed that this support could be repeated in the future if required.
The announcement comes as consultants working in the private sector have reported a significant drop in patient activity as a result of Covid-19 and plans to bring private hospitals into the public health system for the duration of the current coronavirus crisis are being finalised.
MPS said it was outlining this support to protect the financial wellbeing of doctors who have been affected by Covid-19 and support the national effort to tackle it.
The organisation has also extended its counselling service for those experiencing work-related stress, which is provided through a third-party partner and is completely confidential.
Simon Kayll, Chief Executive of the Medical Protection Society, said:
“Covid-19 is causing significant worry and concern for doctors – for their health, wellbeing and finances – at a time when they need to be able to focus on treating patients and looking after themselves.
“As a mutual organisation, our purpose is to be there for our members in times of difficulty and there has never been a more important time to step in and provide the assistance that doctors need.
“We will monitor the situation in the coming weeks and months and continue to actively review ways we can support members.”
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Notes to editors
Counselling service
Our counselling service is provided by our trusted partners ICAS, who offer a personalised and professional service tailored specifically to your requirements and delivered by experienced qualified counsellors.
ICAS's telephone counselling provides immediate access to support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and face-to-face counselling sessions can be arranged near to you and at your convenience, all funded by Medical Protection.
The service is entirely independent and confidential.
Medical Protection members can call ICAS now on +44 3300 241 021 and quote their Medical Protection membership number to book a free session.
For further information contact: Ione Gyamfi at [email protected] +44(0)7976 378216.
About Medical Protection
Medical Protection is a trading name of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”). MPS is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising
from professional practice.
Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.
Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.
MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.